Manifestly Appropriate Uses For Handcuffs

I don’t think this New Jersey law is aimed at your girlfriend’s pink-and-fuzzies, but it’s still a bizarre law:

Any person who knowingly has in his possession handcuffs under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for such lawful uses as handcuffs may have, is guilty of a disorderly persons offense. (New Jersey Code, §§ 2C-39.3(k), 2C-39.9.2.)

From here.

11 comments on “Manifestly Appropriate Uses For Handcuffs”:

Phoenix commented on March 5th, 2009 at 3:31 am:

it was probably passed originally to give prosecutors something additional to throw at people making false arrests or impersonating police as a secondary offense.

I wouldn’t doubt it if I was told such a law had been used against the pink fuzzies though.

handsbehind commented on March 5th, 2009 at 11:27 am:

I’m all for outlawing handcuffs. Hemp rope rules ;)

kitkorn commented on March 5th, 2009 at 3:00 pm:

dammnit. why only where i happen to live!!!!! T.T

Luther commented on March 5th, 2009 at 3:51 pm:

Handcuffs are faster. If she behaves herself she gets the rope, if she’s really good she gets tied up in silk.

Kinky Steve commented on March 5th, 2009 at 9:01 pm:

This looks the same as the “tools of burglary” laws on the books in many places. Those laws make it illegal to own prybars, lock picks, etc if they’re being used to break into places. This was probably a “tools of rape/assault” law, and was/is intended to be used against those who are busted doing non-consensual things to people

giddy commented on March 6th, 2009 at 4:13 am:

I think it would be a funny experiment to actually walk into a police office with a pair of pink-and-fuzzies and pleading guilty, just to see what happens :) .

Mia commented on March 6th, 2009 at 2:38 pm:

hrmph. My husband would argue vehemently that he is most certainly using his handcuffs appropriately on me when I’m being a brat and would also argue that I’M being the disorderly one, not him. He’s always thoughtful and rational and never inappropriate, donchaknow?

the count commented on March 10th, 2009 at 2:55 pm:

OMG…would that make me a criminal if i come to the states and my ‘toy bag’ was searched?

this is too silly for words…

here in melbourne…studded belts are also illegal (under deadly weapon laws) unless you can prove that you are an ‘performer’ and can prove it by having an agent (which i do).

i feel it’s more for the general world and not so much directed at people like us…

Mia commented on March 12th, 2009 at 5:29 am:

the count, who do you mean by “us?” Kinksters? Many people in the “general world” are kinky and enjoy the feeling of handcuffs–pink and fuzzy or cold metal–during their sexy time. Mind clarifying? I’m not quite sure what the last part was getting at…

the count commented on March 13th, 2009 at 10:26 pm:

mia,
you’re right…lots of folk like cuffs.
kinksters and vanilla types.

‘us’ as in anybody who has and uses them.

it was more as in, when i go out i take my bag and within there are a lot of ‘things’ that for use by consenting adults.

SFpette commented on March 28th, 2009 at 6:39 pm:

I live in the San Francisco bay area and got stopped about a year ago and the officer asked if he could look in my car. I said “sure” not remembering that there was a pair of handcuffs under the seat. He pulled them out and asked “what are these used for” and I told him my boyfriend and I play bondage with them and I wear them all the time. He just kind of snickered and stuck them back under the seat.

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