For this reason, the code states that if Jensen is convicted of illegal possession, he must be punished by being held “in a county jail that does not exceed one year or in a state jail.” Although Jensen insisted that he only kept them in his car because it was a handy tool for checking tire pressure, Officer Jensen handcuffed and arrested him for criminal offenses under Criminal Code 12020 and took him to the Santa Cruz County Jail. Although the code does not define what a Billy is, Jensen`s tire bumper has been identified as such. (AP) - A 54-year-old engineer in Scott`s Valley, Calif., is currently facing up to a year in prison for possession of an unregistered lethal weapon in his vehicle - a tire bumper. The officer bent down to grab the tool and told Jensen that he was in possession of an illegal weapon - a “Billy Club,” the officer said. When Jensen turned into a gas station, the CHP vehicle lights came on.Īfter Jensen parked his car in the back of the gas station, the CHP officer approached his passenger`s window and found a tire bumper lying on the floor of his car. Under California`s self-defense laws, it is legal for you to assert yourself and act in self-defense if you: Some California laws make it illegal to use certain weapons in self-defense. The Court of Appeal upheld this and upheld a jury order that a charge of possessing a Billy does not require prosecutors to prove that he intended to use it as a weapon. A jury returned a guilty verdict on the Billy, but was unable to reach a verdict on the other charges. Prosecutors concluded that Baugh did not drive a truck and was not permanently employed by a freight company, and pointed to Baugh`s testimony that he had recently jumped, arguing that it was in self-defense. Baugh claimed the bat was a “tire hitter,” an essential tool for safety inspections by a commercial truck driver. Baugh was charged with a crime in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a baton (Criminal Code 22210), with a previous blow for assaulting a police officer with a lethal weapon. He found bags of ammunition under the seat and a loaded rifle coming out of the trunk. When Baugh exited the vehicle, an officer saw a small wooden bat stuck between the door and the seat on the driver`s side. They suspected a vehicle theft, ordered Baugh to get out of the car, and began a search. 22 caliber cartridge in the work compartment and the ignition switch was torn off. Baugh regularly drove the car, which was registered with a friend. Baugh was arrested while driving a car with a non-working headlight. “The idea that the government now thinks I`m a criminal embarrasses me, humiliates me and makes me angry. “I never thought of using the tire bumper as a weapon,” Jensen said. When it comes to legally owning a tool or gun in one state, you can`t wonder if it`s illegal in another state before you go through it or even stop for a while. Note that you have the legal right to use lethal force to defend yourself if: There is a growing number of law-abiding citizens venturing into a lifestyle of travel and learning about self-defense and protection options. This allows you to change defensive weapons/tools before entering a state and secure/store any unused weapons/tools in a manner that complies with state guidelines. If one state deems a weapon or defence tool illegal, another may adopt it within the framework of its laws.
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