Editing Lock picking (section)

== Legal status ==
=== Australia ===
In Australia, possession of lock picking equipment is legal. However, it may count toward evidence of intent to commit a crime if otherwise incriminating circumstances warrant reasonable suspicion by police. For example, Queensland state law states:

"A person possessing lock picks, an electronic car door lock scanner, or a jemmy in other than easily explainable circumstances, e.g., a locksmith, carpenter, or a person undertaking home renovations, may warrant the suspicion of police that the person may intend to used&nbsp;&#91;sic&#93; the equipment for a burglary or vehicle theft. Obviously, the suspicion held by police must be reasonable and therefore will be dependent on the circumstances under which the person is found with the items."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/bill_en/sob2004199/sob2004199.html |title=SUMMARY OFFENCES BILL 2004 Explanatory Notes |website=Austlii.edu.au |access-date=April 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Review%20of%20Maximum%20Penalties%20for%20Preparatory%20Offences%20Report.pdf|title=Review of Maximum Penalties for Preparatory Offences Report|website=Sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au|access-date=November 23, 2017}}</ref>

=== Canada ===
In B.C. and Ontario Canada, a license is required to carry out locksmithing professionally.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 2, 2015|title=Things to know about locksmiths|url=https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/2015/06/things-to-know-about-locksmiths/|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Consumer Protection BC|language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Locksmiths Licensing Act, 1996|url=https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-36/session-1/bill-40|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Legislative Assembly of Ontario|language=en}}</ref> It is legal for hobbyists who are not locksmiths to pick locks that they own.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Under Section 351 of the Canadian Criminal Code, lock pick tools fit in the same category as crowbars or hammers, meaning they are legal to possess and use unless they are used to commit a crime or if it is shown there was the intention to commit a crime.  

The relevant section states: "Every person who, without lawful excuse, has in their possession any instrument suitable for breaking into any place, motor vehicle, vault or safe knowing that the instrument has been used or is intended to be used for that purpose,

(a) is guilty of an indictable offense and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; or

(b) is guilty of an offense punishable on summary conviction."<ref>[https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-46/page-78.html#h-122049 Canada Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46): Offences Against Rights of Property]</ref>

Some provinces require a license to carry lock picks.<ref>[http://www.lockpickcanada.com/help_answer.asp?ID=9#32 Lockpick Canada: Help]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328024109/http://www.lockpickcanada.com/help_answer.asp?ID=9 |date=March 28, 2012}}</ref> Unlike most laws in Canada, the onus is on the defendant to prove that they have a legal purpose to use the lock picks. Similar to some drug trafficking offenses, this may be automatically applied if possession is discovered, though corroborating evidence is needed to support these charges.<ref name="laws.justice.gc.ca">{{cite web|url=http://laws-Lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-77.html#s-351ss-(1)ID0EDDA |title=Criminal Code |publisher=Laws-lois.justice.gc.ca |access-date=April 13, 2016}}</ref> Hobbyist use and indications thereof should constitute reasonable doubt, though the defendant must prove legal purposes, the crown must still indicate the charges are reasonable given the circumstances. For example, the discovery of lock picks in a dwelling house in absence of other indications of burglary are not grounds for this charge.<ref name=" Lock King">{{cite web |title=Can You Buy Lock Picks in Canada? Yes AND No |url=http://lockking.ca/can-i-buy-lock-picks-in-canada |website=Lock King |access-date=January 12, 2019 |language=en-CA |date=January 18, 2016}}</ref> It is not uncommon for [[hackathon]] events in Canada to have lock picking challenges, and this would constitute a reasonable and legal reason for possession.

=== Germany ===
There is no law or regulation on lock picking, so it is legal as long as one has permission from the owner of the lock to pick the lock in question. Lock picking tools can be freely bought and sold. There are several clubs where lock picking is practiced as a sport.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Schafbuch|first1=David|title='Lockpicking' as Hobby - Sesam, öffne dich|newspaper=Faz.net|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/rhein-main/lockpicking-als-hobby-sesam-oeffne-dich-12851514.html|language=de|date=March 22, 2014}}</ref> Lock picking has also become a popular part of [[geocaching]] in Germany.<ref>[https://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=334fc040-fe0f-4246-906f-c71aa90e7a93 Bookmark list] of lock picking geocaches for basic members at geocaching.com, retrieved on June 12, 2018.</ref> There are also lock picking workshops at geocaching events.<ref>[https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC321V2_lockpicking-event?guid=615feb26-1a33-4ea0-8b92-d40d9339ffb8 Listing to the event GC321V2], retrieved on June 12, 2018.</ref>

=== European Union ===
Most countries of the European Union don't regulate the possession of lockpicks. All responsibility concerning criminal or legal acts using the picks is taken by the owner of the lockpicks.

=== Hungary ===
Unusually  for a country in the EU, ownership of lock picks in [[Hungary]] on public property is prohibited. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=A0300175.KOR#lbj6idff19|title=175/2003. (X. 28.) Korm. rendelet a közbiztonságra különösen veszélyes eszközökről|website=Jogtár|publisher=Wolters Kluwer|access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref>

=== Japan ===
Japan's law prohibits possession of any lock picking tools and imposes a penalty of one-year imprisonment or a 500,000 yen fine.<ref>{{cite act
| title = Act on Prohibiting the Possession of Specified Lock-picking tools (特殊開錠用具の所持の禁止等に関する法律)
| index = 65
| language = Japanese
| date = June 4, 2003
| article = 3, 4, 16
| page = 
| url = https://elaws.e-gov.go.jp/document?lawid=415AC0000000065
}}</ref>

=== Netherlands ===
In the [[Netherlands]], owning lock picks is legal, but using them on someone else's locks without permission is not. There is a lock picking championship, the Dutch Open (organized by [[The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers|TOOOL]]), which started in 2002 and features competitors from around the world. The competition is held during LockCon, an annual conference about locks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://toool.nl/Lockpicking|title=Lockpicking - Toool|website=Toool.nl|access-date=November 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>"Lock pickers hebben slot in paar seconden open", the ''Leeuwarder Courant'', December 2, 2002
*"Vito Tieke", ''Even Vragen Aan'', the ''Algemeen Dagblad'', 2002-12-02
*"Duitser kampioen sloten openen", the ''Sp!ts'', probably 2002-12-02
*"Duitser wordt in Sneek kampioen sloten openen", the ''Friesch Dagblad'', probably 2002-12-02
*"Duitser eerste kampioen sloten openen in Sneek", the ''Dagblad van het Noorden'', probably 2002-12-02
*"Sloten openen als nieuwe sport", ''Dagblad de Limburger'', probably 2002-12-02
''Note: the dates of some articles were not available, but considering the fact that newspapers generally report promptly, it can be assumed the given dates are correct.''
:It was also documented on television, in the programs ''Hart van Nederland'' and on Omproep Friesland.</ref>

=== New Zealand ===
In New Zealand, lock picking tools are not illegal, but possession with the intent to use them for burglary carries a potential penalty of three years in prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1961/0043/latest/DLM330247.html|title=New Zealand Crimes Act (1961), Section 233, subsection 1 - Being disguised or in possession of instrument for burglary|website=Legislation.govt.nz|access-date=December 26, 2021}}</ref>

=== Poland ===
In Poland, according to Article 129/1 of the Misdemeanor Code: both (1) possessing, producing or obtaining a lock pick by a person whose profession and occupation does not require it; and (2) delivering a lock pick to a person whose profession and occupation does not require it is punishable with arrest, freedom limitation or fine - and (3) a lock pick is forfeited even if it was not the property of the principal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ustawa z dnia 20 maja 1971 r. Kodeks wykroczeń |url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU19710120114/U/D19710114Lj.pdf |website=Internetowy System Aktów Prawnych |publisher=Kancelaria Sejmu |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
In [[England and Wales]], a person who, not within their abode, has any article to be used in the course of or in connection with any burglary or theft can potentially be prosecuted.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/section/25|title=Legislation index|website=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=June 28, 2013}}</ref> A successful prosecution would need to prove intention to use the tools for that purpose at the time of possession.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crown Prosecution Guidance |url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/theft-act-offences |website=cps.gov.uk |access-date=19 January 2024}}</ref> As an [[Hybrid offence|either way offence]], the maximum penalty for this is 3 years imprisonment if tried in the [[Crown Court]], and 12 months if tried in the [[Magistrates' court (England and Wales)|Magistrates' Court]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sentencing Council Guidelines |url=https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-court/item/going-equipped-for-theft-or-burglary/ |website=sentencingcouncil.org.uk |access-date=19 January 2024}}</ref>

=== United States ===
In the United States, laws concerning possession of lock picks vary from state to state. Generally, possession and use of lock picks is considered equivalent to the possession of a [[Crowbar (tool)|crowbar]] or any other tool that may or may not be used in a burglary. Possession of lock picks with an intent for their unlawful use is generally prosecuted as a [[misdemeanor]] under the category of possession of burglary tools or similar statutes. In many states, simple possession of lock picks is completely legal, as the statutes only prohibit the possession of lock picks or the activity of lock picking ''when there is a malicious intent''.<ref name=CaliforniaLaw>{{cite news|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&division=&title=13.&part=1.&chapter=3.&article=|title=California Penal Codes, Sections 466–469|publisher=California Legislative Information}}</ref> This is the case in Arizona,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/13/01505.htm&Title=13&DocType=ARS |title=Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13 – Chapter 13 – Section 13-1505 |publisher=Arizona State Legislature |access-date=July 10, 2010}}</ref> California,<ref name=CaliforniaLaw/> Utah,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE76/htm/76_06_020500.htm|title=Utah Criminal Code: Title 76 – Chapter 06 - Section 205|website=Le.utah.gov|access-date=November 23, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004050551/http://le.utah.gov/~code/TITLE76/htm/76_06_020500.htm|archive-date=October 4, 2015}}</ref> Maine,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Title 17-A, 403: Possession or transfer of burglar's tools|url=https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17-A/title17-Asec403.html|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=legislature.maine.gov}}</ref> Massachusetts,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mass.gov/courts/docs/courts-and-judges/courts/district-court/jury-instructions-criminal/6000-9999/8180-possession-of-burglarious-tools.pdf|title=Possession of burglarious tools|date=2009|website=Massachusetts Court System|access-date=March 7, 2016}}</ref> New Hampshire,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/lxii/635/635-1.htm|title=Section 635:1 Burglary.|website=Gencourt.state.nh.us|access-date=March 8, 2016}}</ref> Washington D.C., Washington State,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9A.52.060|title=RCW 9A.52.060: Making or having burglar tools.|website=App.leg.wa.gov|access-date=March 8, 2016}}</ref> and New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nycourts.gov/judges/cji/2-PenalLaw/140/140-35.pdf|title=Possession of burglar's tools|date=September 1, 1967|website=Nycourts.gov/|publisher=New York State Unified Court System|access-date=March 7, 2016}}</ref> Some states, such as California and New York, impose restrictions on businesses, such as prohibiting the operation of a locksmithing business without a license and imposing requirements to keep records about sales of lock picking devices.<ref name=CaliforniaLaw/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bsis.ca.gov/about_us/laws/locksmith_law.shtml |title=California State Business and Professions Code – Chapter 8.5. Locksmiths |website=California Department of Consumer Affairs |access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/2993/locksmith-license|title=Locksmith License|website=1.nyc.gov|access-date=March 8, 2016}}</ref>