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A person without a GWCL?
- Thread starter No2sc2
- Start date
§ 16-11-112. Vehicles with false or secret compartments
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:
(1) (A) "False or secret compartment" means any enclosure which is integrated into or attached to a vehicle and the purpose of the compartment is to conceal, hide, or prevent discovery by law enforcement officers of:
(i) A person concealed for an unlawful purpose;
(ii) Controlled substances possessed in violation of Article 2 of Chapter 13 of this title; or
(iii) Other contraband.
(B) Examples of "false or secret compartment" may include, but are not limited to:
(i) False, altered, or modified fuel tanks;
(ii) Original factory equipment on a vehicle that has been modified; or
(iii) Any compartment, space, or box that is added or attached to existing compartments, spaces, or boxes of the vehicle.
(2) "Vehicle" includes, but is not limited to, cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, aircraft, helicopters, boats, ships, yachts, and other vessels.
(b) It may be inferred that the accused intended to use a false or secret compartment if a person knowingly has a false or secret compartment which:
(1) Is concealing a person for an unlawful purpose;
(2) Is concealing a controlled substance in violation of Article 2 of Chapter 13 of this title;
(3) Is concealing other contraband;
(4) Shows evidence of the previous concealment of a person for an unlawful purpose;
(5) Shows evidence of the previous concealment of controlled substances in violation of Article 2 of Chapter 13 of this title; or
(6) Shows evidence of the previous concealment of other contraband.
(c) (1) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly own or operate any vehicle containing a false or secret compartment.
(2) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly install, create, build, or fabricate in any vehicle a false or secret compartment.
(3) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, trade, or otherwise dispose of a vehicle which is in violation of this Code section.
(d) Any person who violates this Code section shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than two years, by a fine not to exceed $10,000.00, or both.
(e) Upon the arrest of a person who owns or is operating a vehicle which is in violation of this Code section, if the vehicle is not otherwise subject to forfeiture under other provisions of law, or not determined to be needed to be held as evidence, the law enforcement officer shall seize the license plate and registration for such vehicle and shall issue a citation for violation of this Code section and a temporary license plate for the vehicle. The temporary license plate shall be on a form as prescribed by the state revenue commissioner. The temporary license plate shall be valid for 30 days or until the owner of the vehicle provides verification that such vehicle has been repaired so as to eliminate any violation of this Code section, whichever occurs first. Such vehicle shall be subject to inspection by law enforcement and if it is determined that such vehicle has been repaired, the license plate and registration shall be returned to the owner at such time.
I am not trying to stir the pot here, nor get in a pissing match with anyone that calls people "Bro," I just simply want to see where a person would be in possession of a vehicle with an illegal compartment. Not to say that there are not many LEOs out there that would charge someone while doing nothing illegal, it comes down to the judge ultimately.
If the code were read only as quoted above, a toolbox in the back of a pickup could fall under this....Until you read the rest of the definition of False or Secret Compartment, as defined in 16-11-112.
Since "bro" isnt acceptable, I'll just put it out there generally, since ya don't wanna stir the pot. I have YET, to find a hidden or secret compartment used for legit reasons.
I dont have a carry license but I can still legally carry lol
Thank you. Its my pleasure. I love my job
I'm sorry we went off on this tangent. You can carry a firearm anywhere in your vehicle and in whichever case/bag you want. It is an extension of your home. Yes carrying a firearm in a case/bag to the range is not only legal, but smart.
just lay in it the passenger side seat or on the dash and be done with it,,,
Ok....I have MANY Leo's of all types deputies, police, GSP etc in my family....They ALL knew I made a "Hidden compartment" behind my drivers seat on my old extended cab Z71. I cut out the floor and welded in a box and made a lid for it with a lock. The carpet was cut in such a way that the seam ran under the drivers seat and under the side panels making it all but invisible unless you knew it was there. I just left it unlocked 99% of the time and used it to store my jumper cables, pull chains, snow chains, tools etc....But it's primary purpose was for when we went on trips we would lock our valuables in it so if someone where to break in my truck they would never see it....
None of them ever mentioned that it was illegal, and some even wanted me to do similar for their vehicles if I could find a way...
So in my case, going by what that law states, it WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL cause it was never used for hiding anything illegal.
If for some freak reason my vehicle was to ever be searched, it still would be fine as long as I disclosed to the officer that it was there, right?
I have since sold the truck, but I welded it all back up and box is gone.
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That's the exception, rather than the rule and it's good that no one ever hassled you about it. Had you been stopped and explained, I'm willing to bet whoever stopped you would have let you go. However, the law is there for a reason.
That'd be like making guns illegal because they could be used for illegal purposes...crazy.
Maybe if you explained to the officer that you were using it for personal protection, they'd let you off...lol
What a world we've built for ourselves.
The real irony being that we'd only want to build a hidden compartment to protect us from criminal activity and the only reason that said hidden compartment would be illegal is because of criminal activity.
Maybe if you explained to the officer that you were using it for personal protection, they'd let you off...lol
What a world we've built for ourselves.
The real irony being that we'd only want to build a hidden compartment to protect us from criminal activity and the only reason that said hidden compartment would be illegal is because of criminal activity.
