Question:
hi so my wife regularly locks her keys in her car and i was wondering in the state of California is it illegal to possess a slimjim and air pump wedges to open the car door so i can get her keys or is it only illegal if i intend to do it to a vehicle i don’t have permission to enter?
Answer:
Most vehicle opening tools are restricted use / purchase. But I have bought many in my lifetime and never even been asked one question about them. I used to carry one with me and I also used to work for a Towing company where I could get into anything in about a minute or less. That said this is all about intent. I would say that most officers or deputies have the common sense to understand the intent in which you are using a locksmith style tool. Correct intent nobody goes to jail, mal-intent and well the entire game changes. Possession of burglary tools is never a good thing.
