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Dangerous Weapons
Did you get charged with bringing a dangerous weapon through airport security at DTW?
You aren’t alone! Everyday people at Detroit Metro arrest and charge people who accidentally bring things through security that they didn’t know they could bring, or that they forgot was there.
How you were likely charged for this depends on a lot of factors. If it was knowingly or willfully (which is very rare) it is possible you could be charged federally under 49 U.S Code § 46314 which could lead to imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
Alternatively, although rare, without the intent you could still be charged federally as a misdemeanor.
The potential prison time increases significantly if you are a convicted felon, or someone that legally should not be in possession of a firearm.
Luckly most of the time, if you are otherwise legally allowed to carry the weapon that you brought (like if you had a CPL and forgot your firearm in your carry-on), it is likely that you will get charged with a misdemeanor under Subsection 11.5 of the Wayne County Airport Authority Ordinance.
This section states that no person shall not:
2. For purposes of this Subsection, dangerous weapon includes, but is not limited to, any firearms, explosives, knives, razor, slingshot, spring stick, metal knucks, blackjack, sand club, sandbag, bow and arrow, any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nun cacao shuriken, or fighting chain, any disc of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart any mechanism designed to emit an electronic, magnetic, or other type of charge that exceeds the equivalency of a five milliamp sixty hertz shock and used for the purpose of temporarily incapacitating a person, which may be known as a stun gun, any mechanism designed to emit an electronic magnetic, or other type of charge or shock through the use of a projectile and used for the purpose of temporarily incapacitating a person, which may be known as a taser.
If you are charged with bringing a dangerous weapon to Detroit Metro Airport under this provision your case will be heard at the 34th district court in Romulus. It is a misdemeanor with a maximum amount of jail time of 90 days and a maximum fine of $500. While it is unlikely that the judge would sentence you to jail over this, a conviction could have unintended consequences for things such as immigration, security clearances and even job prospects.
Oftentimes with our representation, we can make sure that your matter is resolved without a criminal conviction. We know the judges, we know the prosecutors and we know the law. Airport matters are what we do.
Contact us today for a free consultation
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