Lock Bumping Keys

While each state, city, and other government always has its own laws, having a bump key has not yet proved illegal.  Many locksmiths and law enforcement officials are licensed and/or permitted to carry specialized tools that could be confiscated or land the average citizen in jail.  Common lock picking tools: files, wires, etc. could easily cast strong suspicion on anyone who is not using them for obviously legit reasons.  Bump keys, while over 25 years old, have not caught on in the mainstream of security concerns yet.  Therefore, at this time, anyone can own a bump key.  It is the means and purpose for which you employ it that can cause trouble.

After all, having a slim jim of wire coat hanger to open your car door if you get locked out is fine, and you’re not going to see any jail time for it.  Having the same devices and a criminal record for auto theft can easily land you back in the slammer.  The same holds true for bump keys.  If you have one on your spare key ring, because someone is always locking themselves out of the house, you’re fine.  It would take a keen eye to even notice that is what you have.  On the other hand, if you’re pulled over in the middle of the night and your trunk is searched and the police find common thieves tools along with a bump key, it will most likely be added in with the rest of the contraband.

There is possibility that bump keys will become restricted tools in the future, only legal to own by those with special authority.  Until it becomes a more noticeable problem to law officials, this will not happen.  For now, if your purpose is honest, there is nothing keeping you from owning or possessing a bump key.  Some salesmen use them to show that their competitor’s product is noticeably inferior, for example.  If you do employ bump keys in your trade or personal use, you will want to keep up to date on law changes that might affect you, however.

Bumping Key Articles
bump keys, key set, keys, locks, locksmith, picking locks