Re: legality of "weapons" in your car
Flashlights, like 6-C cell MagLite's are always great to have. Handy, versatile, and multi-purpose all at the same time.
You can focus the beam to a narrow spot, or you can have it wide for an 'area search'. Like I said, multi-purpose.
And they're waterproof.
And they clean up nice.
And they're handy to have close to hand. You never know what you may have to look at or investigate.