More zero tolerance inanity: Boy arrested for having fishing equipment in car at school

This 17-year-old's life is completely messed up.  A felony arrest for "carrying a weapon in a school safety zone" will prevent him from getting into most colleges.  Is there any rational basis for a zero tolerance policy in this case?  From the Marietta Daily Journal:

. . . Cody Chitwood, 17, is a senior at Lassiter High School, and an avid fisherman.He went fishing at his favorite spot, Mountain Park off Highway 92 and Mabry Road several days before and left his two fishing poles and tackle box in his car. 

Little did he know that Lassiter administrators would order a K-9 search of the parking lot on Sept. 17 and a dog would hit on his car. 

The dog apparently picked up a scent of black powder because Chitwood also had several firecrackers in his trunk, left over from a Fourth of July celebration. That was enough for police to order a thorough search of his 1998 BMW 328i. 

They found four knives, all of them with blades of at least 2.5 inches, according to the arrest warrant. Three of them, including a fillet knife and a spring-assisted knife, were inside his tackle box in the trunk. A butterfly knife was found inside the pocket of the driver’s side door. 

“I enjoy fishing. I go fishing probably once a week, sometimes twice a week,” said Chitwood, who has been suspended for 10 days by Lassiter Principal Chris Richie. “I just forgot that it was in there. I had my fishing poles in the car, too.” 

He was charged with carrying a weapon in a school safety zone, which is a felony in Georgia. . . .

By the way, having a knife inside the pocket of the driver's side door is a safety precaution in case you get trapped in your car with your seatbelt stuck and you need to cut the belt to get up.