Police And Coins

The implication for arrest "the next time" is not clear. Like I said earlier, it's not illegal to own the scale, just like it's not illegal to possess rolling papers (ever hear of Bugler tobacco?). What it does is add to the officer's "probable cause" to search your vehicle. It won't be the only trigger, but the reason he was stopped, and attitude toward the officer, will either temper or raise his suspicions. Again, the OP does not say why he was stopped. Nor does he detail how he reacted when the officer approached his car. Was it "yes sir, no sir" or "why in the **** did you stop me" attitude? Do a Google search for police shot during traffic stop and see how many news stories come up. I am reminded of an incident in Pittsburgh a few years ago where a black man was killed by the police when he was stopped for running stop sign (illegal in every state), and began to rant about racial profiling, exiting the vehicle (after being told to stay in the car) with an object in his hand. He was subdued by the officers. turned out he had a cell phone. But which officer needed to be shot before it's shown it was not a gun? Local NAACP was in an uproar over that one. But if the guy stays in his car, lets the officer do his job, and goes on his way, he's still alive today. Then in the same city in 2009, three officers were killed answering a domestic dispute call. I'm sure the OP simply had a burned out bulb he didn't know about, was more than polite, and thanked the officer for his warning . I understand the caution.

Keep in mind these guys have forums similar to this one, so they communicate with each other about the happenings in their jobs same we do with the hobby. So when a Florida officer is killed in the line of duty, the cop in rural PA knows about it.

This thread has gone everywhere except to educate coin collectors.

First my qualifications.
I live in Florida
I have held 2 careers for many years - I just left one but the other
One is in Law enforcement - I have worked in Law Enforcement in the US, the UK, Singapore, and Australia.

Yesterday I met with representatives of three law enforcement agencies State county and local. One being the director of a drug enforcement unit.

We researched this subject. There are no laws in the state of Florida against the possession of any coin collection supplies
- scales magnifiers, gloves, tubes, boxes, Dips, Darkeners, Cleaner/Preservatives, Coin Tongs, Finger Cots, Coin Gloves, etc.

Possessing any of the coin collecting items are not illegal to have -Unless you are stopped for something else and the associated item can be connected to other items in your possession intended for illegal activities.

Example if you have drugs in your vehicle and you have a box of finger cots. Then you are going to have a difficult time explaining that the cots are not intended to be used for the transportation of the drugs. ie. filling them and swallowing them.

Now before you you say this is way out thinking - It would be the same if you had some pieces of pipe in your vehicle, along with explosives and fuses. No most of us would never think as possession of a piece of pipe (not the smoking kind) as illegal but if it is in your possession for the purpose of creating a pipe bomb - then what would you expect the officer to think.

In Florida we have a concealed firearms carry law, but even if you have a carry permit and an officer walks up to your car and sees a hand gun visible- don't be surprised - when the officer draws his weapon and holds you at gunpoint.

So as I continue to travel around the country with my gloves,scale,calipers, magnifiers, uv flashlight; I never get questioned by the TSA nor any other law enforcement agencies.

Let us now close this thread and state if you are or have ever been worried about transporting a scale in Florida- Don't be, it is not illegal.

ok I finally talked to a friend who is a criminal defense attny. he said that 46 states do arrest for such little things scale, little baggies etc he says that he usually gets them dismissed but mean while you still have to go to jail get a lawyer. it would be a real pain. then he dropped the big one! the police will test the money you have on you for drugs and 87% of all bills have drugs on them then they will confiscate the money and even if you are found not guilty they keep it!