Template talk:Legal Issues:USChart

When searching for laws the following may be helpful:

Search terms:

• criminal instruments
• instruments of crime
• burglar's tool(s)
• burglary tool(s)
• burglarious instrument(s)
• burglarious tool(s)
• lock smith
• locksmith
• security guard
• surreptitous entry
• forced entry
• pick(s)
• lockpick(s)
• pick lock(s)

Most states include lockpicking within the burglary or trespassing section of their criminal code. Rules for licensing/certification of locksmiths is usually in a broad list of regulations for various professions, sometimes lumped together with security guards and private investigators.

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According District of Columbia Official Code, DC ST § 22-2501, it would not appear to be prima facie:

No person shall have in his or her possession in the District any instrument, tool, or implement for picking locks or pockets, with the intent to use such instrument, tool, or implement to commit a crime. Whoever violates this section shall be imprisoned for not more than 180 days and may be fined not more than $1,000, unless the violation occurs after he or she has been convicted in the District of a violation of this section or of a felony, either in the District or another jurisdiction, in which case he or she shall be imprisoned for not less than one year nor more than 5 years.

--96.26.93.159 22:05, 26 August 2010 (UTC)