NOTE: This information is not provided as legal advice. Always consult a lawyer and seek legal guidance.
The below list of expandable baton laws includes states that have laws restricting the use or possession of expandable batons or other similar weapons. Expandable batons can be called expandable billys, billys, billy clubs, batons, telescopic batons, clubs, bludgeons and several other names. Expandable batons laws can sometimes be tricky and the expandable baton can be grouped with weapons that are similar known as a blackjack, slungshot, sandclub, sap, or sandbag or billys.
Many places in the United States have prohibited offensive weapons laws which allows you to carry certain weapons such as expandable batons, but they become illegal if you use or intend to use the device in an offensive manner, such as a street fight, resulting in additional charges or stiffer consequences. One would think this type of law would allow you to use and carry the weapon for defensive purposes without question.
Unfortunately it is difficult to identify expandable batons as illegal in most states as they do not specifically mention expandable or telescopic batons. We have not found a state law from any state that mentions expandable baton laws or telescopic baton laws. In some locations an expandable baton falls under the term “club”, “billy” or “bludgeon” and therefore it would be illegal. If you carry an expandable baton in states that mention club, billys or bludgeons as illegal in any way you run the risk of being prosecuted. In some states where carrying an expandable baton is illegal, such as California, the offense is considered a “wobbler offense”. For a wobbler offense the prosecutor has discretion whether to file the charge as either a misdemeanor or felony.