Can I carry a knife in public?
It depends on place, circumstances and purpose: where and why you carry the knife matters. The law doesn't ban owning or buying a knife or pocket knife, nor transporting it reasonably (e.g. in a backpack, in the boot or in the glovebox). What Law 61/1991 sanctions is carrying without right, in places and circumstances where life or bodily integrity could be endangered or public order disturbed, of knives, daggers, knuckledusters or other objects made specially for cutting, piercing or striking. In other words: a pocket knife carried on a hike or a knife kept in your car doesn't make you a criminal, but pulling out or carrying a knife in a bar, at a gathering or in a conflict context can be a crime. The law remains ambiguous on blade length, leaving room for interpretation.
📋 The rules
- Owning and buying a knife/pocket knife: allowed
- Sanctioned: carrying without right in dangerous places/circumstances
- Targeted: knives, daggers, knuckledusters, cutting/piercing/striking objects
- In a backpack, boot, glovebox: generally no problem
- Blade length: the law is ambiguous, case-by-case
🔓 Exceptions
- A work tool used for a legitimate purpose (at work, in nature)
- Reasonable transport in luggage or in the car: tolerated
- Knife pulled out/used as a threat: a crime (Penal Code)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Carrying without right, in dangerous places and circumstances, of knives or other objects made for cutting/striking is punished with imprisonment of 3 months to 2 years or a fine, if the act isn't a more serious offence. Using a knife to threaten or attack a person is a separate, more serious crime. To avoid trouble: don't carry the knife in plain sight or on you in crowded public places, bars, at gatherings or in tense contexts; if you need a utility knife, transport it in a backpack or in the car, not in your pocket; and use it strictly for a legitimate purpose (work, hiking, cooking), never as a means of intimidation.
📎 Official sources
- Law 61/1991 (public order and quiet) →
- Penal Code · art. 372 (dangerous objects) →
- Law 295/2004 on the regime of arms →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I carry a knife on the street?
It depends on place, circumstances and purpose. Owning and reasonably transporting a knife aren't banned, but carrying without right in places and circumstances where people could be endangered or public order disturbed is a crime. The context in which you carry the knife is decisive.
Can I keep a knife in my car?
Yes, generally. The law doesn't ban transporting a knife in the boot or glovebox, even if it's considered a bladed weapon. The problem arises only if you carry it on you in dangerous places and circumstances, or use it as a threat. For transport, keep it in luggage or in the car, not in your pocket.
What does "carrying without right" mean?
It means carrying a knife or an object made for cutting or striking in places and circumstances where life or bodily integrity could be endangered, or public order and quiet disturbed. Context matters: a bar, a gathering or a conflict situation make the carrying illegal.
What blade length is allowed?
The law remains ambiguous about the exact blade length and the precise definition of a banned bladed weapon, which leads to differing interpretations. That's precisely why the key criterion isn't so much the size, but the place, circumstances and purpose for which you carry the knife in public.
What do I risk for illegally carrying a knife?
Carrying without right, in dangerous places and circumstances, of knives or objects made for cutting or striking is punished with imprisonment of 3 months to 2 years or a fine. Using the knife to threaten or attack a person is a separate, more serious crime.
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