Card knives illegal

TOOWOOMBA police are warning people against carrying credit card knives.

Three people in as many weeks have appeared before the city’s Magistrates Court charged with having the illegal item on them when passing through Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport.

The items look like any other credit card but have a 5cm fold-away blade attached to the back.

Airport security found a 19-year-old man carrying a credit card knife in his wallet as had a 48-year-old man while a 57-year-old woman was found with one in her purse.

The card knives, which are acquired online, are deemed a Category M weapon in Queensland.

Darling Downs Detective Inspector Dave Isherwood said people had to be aware that credit card knives were a prohibited item under the Weapons Act.

“People need to be aware that they are not considered a normal knife.

“It’s a concealed weapon and so a prohibited item under the Weapons Act.”

The three people pleaded guilty in court, each claiming they had no idea the credit card knife was illegal.

The woman said she had been given the card by her son to use if needing to cut up items such as fruit when travelling and the 48-year-old man said a friend had given him the item which he had used for cutting string from parcels and the like.

He had not been travelling by plane but had been at the airport having coffee with his daughters who were travelling, the court heard.

The 19-year-old man was fined $300 while the man and woman were each released on a six-month good behaviour bond.

No convictions were recorded against any of the three.