As most of you know, lock picks are considered burglary tools in many states. And unless you are a licensed locksmith, you might get yourself into trouble if a member of the local law enforcement finds them on you. Hopefully you are picking locks for the fun and challenge of it and not for criminal intent. The criminal intent is what gets you trouble and gives lock picking a bad name. If you are caught committing a crime while in the possession of lock picks, the severity of your punishment will increase in many states. Your misdemeanor can easily jump up to a felony.
An excerpt from the California Penal Code:
CA – California California Penal Code – Section 466-469. Burglarious And Larcenous Instruments And Deadly Weapons. 466. Every person having upon him or her in his or her possession a picklock, crow, keybit, crowbar, screwdriver, vise grip pliers, water-pump pliers, slidehammer, slim jim, tension bar, lock pick gun, tubular lock pick, floor-safe door puller, master key, ceramic or porcelain spark plug chips or pieces, or other instrument or tool with intent feloniously to break or enter into any building, railroad car, aircraft, or vessel, trailer coach, or vehicle as defined in the Vehicle Code, or who shall knowingly make or alter, or shall attempt to make or alter, any key or other instrument named above so that the same will fit or open the lock of a building, railroad car, aircraft, vessel, trailer coach, or vehicle as defined in the Vehicle Code, without being requested to do so by some person having the right to open the same, or who shall make, alter, or repair any instrument or thing, knowing or having reason to believe that it is intended to be used in committing a misdemeanor or felony, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Any of the structures mentioned in Section 459 shall be deemed to be a building within the meaning of this section.
