Posted: | December 30, 2014 09:10 AM |
---|---|
From: | Representative Kate Harper |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Making False Compartment with Intent to Commit a Criminal Offense |
In the near future, I plan on reintroducing former HB 1537 which creates a new provision entitled Unlawful False or Secret Compartment in Title 18 (Crimes Code) for those who possess a vehicle with an unlawful false or secret compartment with the intent to use it to commit a criminal offense. A constituent in law enforcement suggested this to me. This new offense will make it a crime for any person who, acting with an unlawful purpose knowingly owns, operates or possesses a motor vehicle which contains a false or secret compartment with the intent to store, conceal, camouflage, hide, smuggle, transport or prevent discovery of a person, controlled substance, illegal weapon or other contraband within the false compartment. A violation of this section is graded as a first degree misdemeanor. These compartments can be used to avoid complying with multiple state laws including drug smuggling and avoiding taxes on cigarettes. To ensure that this bill only affects those who possess a vehicle with a false or secret compartment with the intent to use that compartment criminally, the bill includes language explicitly exempting any compartment used or possessed solely for purpose of securing valuables, electronics, firearms or other personal property that is lawfully possessed. Please join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation. Previous Co-Sponsors include: SCHLOSSBERG, O'NEILL, SWANGER, SIMS, MILLARD, HACKETT, WATSON, HESS, GINGRICH, BIZZARRO, C. HARRIS, M. K. KELLER, MILNE, COHEN, MURT, QUINN, STEPHENS, CALTAGIRONE and ROZZI |
Introduced as HB91