and find only a lighter. If they don't have drugs of any kind what will happen. In the US, specifically California, will they get arrested. Is it illegal for minors to carry matches, lighters etc.? Assuming I get searched for hanging out with my suspicious looking friends, yes it does happen, and they find just a lighter will they take it or give my school/parents a call?

Don't reply to this if you don't know what your talking about. Thanks for the info.

as far as i know, you're not suppose to be holding lighters because it can be considered arson. i don't know the exact punishment, i live in southern California too. i have never heard of cops putting kids away for having a lighter, i believe they usually let the kids off with a warning, but you should never consent to a search, if they have probable cause to search you, they will. So if they ask, say no, but don't disrespect them because they hate "punk kids."

If you burn down a church thats arson. A 13 year old with a lighter isnt the same thing.

Huh? Anyway, lighters aren't illegal.

at what age are you a minor there? I bought a lighter yesterday and i'm 16 (don't smoke) and all was cool...

i'm presuming it's around 18 for you

1) If a cop ever tries to search you say " I DO NOT CONSENT TO ANY SEARCH OF MYSELF AND MY BELONGINGS" say it really firmly. More then likely he'll stop searching you unless he has probable cause to search you.

2) If they find a lighter more then likely they'll do nothing. If they want to be a real dick they'll call your parents but 999 times out of 1000 they'll do nothing.

I doubt you get in trouble man... It's a lighter. I have seen cops who have caught 13 year olds smoking just give them slaps on the wrists. I personally wouldn't worry about it.

5char

Let me jack this thread for a moment
Halloween a few years ago (I was 14) I was out with a friend to do some mischief. It was not very late, there were still a lot of people out. We went into a square and a cop tells both of us to stop, and that he was going to search us. He searched two other people and then came over to us. he padded us both down, I had some crackling ball fireworks and lighters on me and my friend had a can of shaving cream. He took my friend's shaving cream and told me to empty my pockets after he felt stuff in them. I told him that I did not want to, and I asked if I had to (very lame resistance, I know). The cop said that if I did not he would take me to the station. I gave him the fireworks and he left. My only question is, could I have said no? If I had said no to the search could he have done any thing?

Cops are only as powerful as you let them be.