Locksmith Licensing

It's coming! In fact it's already here in at least 9 states in the USA.

The great state of Tennessee just introduced a bill for licensing.

Below is a recent article about the issue from The Mountain Press.


It's nice when you drive down the road and see a police officer helping a motorist unlock the door of their vehicle. It's a good sign, like seeing an officer working with children or giving directions to tourists. But unlocking some of these modern cars is a tricky thing, even dangerous. Side air bags can be set off, and there can be damage to the window or lock from trying to force open the door.

For those reasons and more, a new state law has kicked in that prevents police officers from providing locksmithing services to motorists. While it may seem as if we've lost a special connection and public service, in fact we are preventing problems and backlash. The Locksmith Licensing Act of 2006 provides that only professionally licensed locksmiths can offer those services. It's the same thinking that requires a license for massage therapists, real estate agents and hairdressers. It's not designed to restrict trade or keep people from earning a living. It's meant to ensure that those who do those jobs have the training and expertise to perform the tasks. Police officers do not. Police officers are trained in law enforcement, in responding to emergencies and investigating crime. They are not necessarily trained, nor should they be, in how to unlock a motorist's car. While that may be the very definition of a public servant, in fact there are inherent risks in officers trying to unlock a vehicle car. If the car is damaged in such an effort, who's at fault? If an air bag deploys accidentally during the try to open the car, who's at fault? Police chiefs and their officers certainly have mixed feelings about the new law, and for sure motorists don't like it. In Pigeon Forge officers regularly helped stranded motorists. It was a nice touch assisting the tourists, and certainly left those who got the help having good thoughts about the city they just visited. But the downside and potential problems overwhelmed the good that was done. And with what surely was some intensive lobbying by the locksmith fraternity, the law has been enacted. Now when you call the police station they'll give you a list of professional locksmiths you can contact for assistance, or be directed to telephone listings for others. Police will call a locksmith if asked to by the motorist. But no more jimmying open a car door or trying to figure out the myriad kinds of locks that you find on cars these days. Yes, a certain Mayberryesque service has been lost, but in this case, it's really the best thing.

©The Mountain Press 2007