Knife Laws in Albuquerque, New Mexico?

[ChillerMetal]

Hello all, I live in Albuquerque New Mexico, I have read the laws and I understand them. But I wanted to know if there are any Albuquerque only laws? Also is there a blade length? or just a guideline I should follow? As of now I carry a Benchmade Contego 4" blade, and I plan on getting a fixed blade with about a 5" blade and a leg mounting system for edc. What are your thoughts on this? is it legal?
Thank you!:thumbup:

 

[glistam]

New Mexico's state law on knives is actually fairly vague about regular folding knives, though it appears in practice that non-switchblade, non-balisong folding knives are ok to carry. It is also totally legal to openly carry such folding knives or fixed blades. There is no length limit under the law for any knife nor does any case law give any "guidelines," though I must state that due to the vagueness of the statute, if a knife is carried concealed, an exceptionally large or menacing design may sway a police officer's opinion about whether it is or is not a "deadly weapon."

Albuquerque itself does have knife laws, but they appear to be nothing more than a parroting of the state law, which is strange but more or less doesn't change anything.
One statute of note I did find is that is illegal to sell or give knives to minors unless you are their parent or guardian, and it is not illegal for minors to possess or carry knives that are otherwise legal for adults to have.

http://www.amlegal.com/albuquerque_nm/ See § 12-2-8 and § 12-2-10

 

[NMpops]

Spent my LE career in the Albuquerque area and yes NM Knife laws are vague but basically as long as the knife is not a switchblade or balisong or obvious gravity knife you can carry what you like, concealed or not. I never saw anyone charged with possession of a deadly weapon (knife) unless they actually used or attempted to use it as such.

Also the reason Albuquerque and other cities parrot the State Statutes is so they can charge Petty Misdemeanor crimes through Municipal Court (and retain the revenue) Charges filed in State court- most of the revenue goes to the state.

 

[glistam]

Also the reason Albuquerque and other cities parrot the State Statutes is so they can charge Petty Misdemeanor crimes through Municipal Court (and retain the revenue) Charges filed in State court- most of the revenue goes to the state.

That's very interesting. I'd never seen anything like that in other states, though I'm guessing it's because court systems vary from state to state. In Maryland, all courts are state-run, period, so such an ordinance would have no effect.

 

[NMpops]

Well, New Mexico is still a free state and generally allows it's subdivisions some leeway in governing themselves. A lot of eastern states (I was born & raised in NJ) have forgotten why we fought a revolution.

 

[glistam]

Well, New Mexico is still a free state and generally allows it's subdivisions some leeway in governing themselves. A lot of eastern states (I was born & raised in NJ) have forgotten why we fought a revolution.

There's some real irony to that in the context of this thread "Governing themselves" apparently means permission to screw it's citizens over so they can get more money for something that shouldn't even be a crime in the first place. "Governing themselves" also means the freedom to be stupid. Case in point, knife/gun laws of Atlanta, GA, Phoenix, AZ, and San Antonio, TX. In the case of the first too, it took the state passing preemption bills to make those cities stop oppressing their citizens.

 

[NMpops]

New Mexico also has gone the preemption route, but allows Municipal Courts to basically enforce state laws through municipal codes that mirror the state. Municipal governments just adopt the state code. Albuquerque did try to not allow concealed carry and the State Supreme Court made it very clear that only they had to adhere to state law. Never heard of anyone being charged in NM with any crime involving a knife who was not actually using it as a weapon,

Hit someone with a baseball bat and you will be with Assault with a Deadly Weapon.