Driving a 'TRAP' Car is Now A Felony

[palani]

Isn't THAT just special? They didn't actually FIND anything "WE MUST HAVE CAUGHT HIM BETWEEN RUNS"

http://www.wkyc.com/story/news/local/2013/11/20/trap-car-law/3655713/


For the first time in Northeast Ohio, state troopers made an arrest under the state's new "hidden compartment" law.

The bust happened yesterday on the turnpike in Lorain County.

They pulled over the driver for speeding, but then troopers noticed several wires running to the back of the car.

Those wires then led them directly to a hidden compartment.

Around 5 p.m. on Tuesday state troopers made the arrest under the law, which is meant to combat criminals who modify the inside of their car, allowing them to store drugs or weapons inside secret compartments, which can often only be accessed electronically.

"During the search, they noticed some components inside the vehicle that did not appear to be factory," says Lt. Michael Combs with State Highway Patrol.

Channel 3 was not able to shoot video of that car right now because it is being held as evidence, but we can tell you it's "hide" was accessed electronically, meaning you needed to perform a series of events in the correct order, and the the false floor seats or taillights would then pop out, revealing the secret compartment.

The giveaway this time?

"We figured it out and followed the wiring and we were able to get it open," says Combs.

Troopers arrested 30-year-old Norman Gurley, who didn't even have any drugs on him, but it didn't matter, because in Ohio, just driving a "trap" car is now a felony.

"Without the hidden compartment law, we would not have had any charges on the suspect," says Combs.

But because of this law, one more "trap car" is now off Northeast Ohio roads.

"We apparently caught them between runs, so to speak, so this takes away one tool they have in their illegal trade. The law does help us and is on our side," says Combs.

Gurley, who is from Michigan, was arraigned this morning and has since posted bond.

Combs says the "hide" in Gurley's car was big enough to carry several pounds of drugs.

When it comes down to it a trunk is a hidden compartment. You might even be able to access it remotely by a button that bypasses the lock.

[midnight rambler]

Apparently he wasn't flying the Jolly Roger to show the pirates he was one of them.

[palani]

And law enforcement exempts itself from this Ohio law


This section does not apply to any law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the law enforcement officer's duties.

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_SB_305


AN ACT

To enact section 2923.241 of the Revised Code to prohibit designing, building, constructing, fabricating, modifying, or altering a vehicle to create or add a hidden compartment with the intent to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance, prohibit operating, possessing, or using a vehicle with a hidden compartment with knowledge that the hidden compartment is used or intended to be used to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance, and prohibit a person who has committed a first or second degree felony violation of aggravated trafficking in drugs from operating, possessing, or using a vehicle with a hidden compartment.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:

SECTION 1. That section 2923.241 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 2923.241. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Hidden compartment" means a container, space, or enclosure that conceals, hides, or otherwise prevents the discovery of the contents of the container, space, or enclosure. "Hidden compartment" includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(a) False, altered, or modified fuel tanks;

(b) Any original factory equipment on a vehicle that has been modified to conceal, hide, or prevent the discovery of the modified equipment's contents;

(c) Any compartment, space, box, or other closed container that is added or attached to existing compartments, spaces, boxes, or closed containers integrated or attached to a vehicle.

(3) "Vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 4511.01 of the Revised Code and includes, but is not limited to, a motor vehicle, commercial tractor, trailer, noncommercial trailer, semitrailer, mobile home, recreational vehicle, or motor home.

(4) "Motor vehicle," "commercial trailer," "trailer," "noncommercial trailer," "semitrailer," "mobile home," "manufacturer," "recreational vehicle," and "motor home" have the same meanings as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Motor vehicle dealer" has the same meaning as in section 4517.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person shall knowingly design, build, construct, or fabricate a vehicle with a hidden compartment, or modify or alter any portion of a vehicle in order to create or add a hidden compartment, with the intent to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance.

(C) No person shall knowingly operate, possess, or use a vehicle with a hidden compartment with knowledge that the hidden compartment is used or intended to be used to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance.

(D) No person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of aggravated trafficking in drugs under section 2925.03 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the first or second degree shall operate, possess, or use a vehicle with a hidden compartment.

(E) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of designing a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance. Except as otherwise provided in this division, designing a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B) of this section, designing a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the third degree.

(F) Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance. Except as otherwise provided in this division, operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the fourth degree. Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (C) or (D) of this section, operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the third degree. If the hidden compartment contains a controlled substance at the time of the offense, operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the second degree.

(G) This section does not apply to any law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the law enforcement officer's duties.

(H)(1) This section does not apply to any licensed motor vehicle dealer or motor vehicle manufacturer that in the ordinary course of business repairs, purchases, receives in trade, leases, or sells a motor vehicle.

(2) This section does not impose a duty on a licensed motor vehicle dealer to know, discover, report, repair, or disclose the existence of a hidden compartment to any person.

(I) This section does not apply to a box, safe, container, or other item added to a vehicle for the purpose of securing valuables, electronics, or firearms provided that at the time of discovery the box, safe, container, or other item added to the vehicle does not contain a controlled substance or visible residue of a controlled substance.

[palani]

Just to be fair ... should you have a concealed compartment and wish to bypass the effects of this law ... merely place a legal notice in the paper to give due notice to the public where your compartment is and how it might be accessed.

See when you do this then the compartment is no longer CONCEALED. You have just given the public all the notice they need to let them know where the compartment actually is.

[midnight rambler]

(I) This section does not apply to a box, safe, container, or other item added to a vehicle for the purpose of securing valuables, electronics, or firearms provided that at the time of discovery the box, safe, container, or other item added to the vehicle does not contain a controlled substance or visible residue of a controlled substance.

This just goes to show that regarding the incident in the OP "The 'law' (statute) means what WE say it means - don't like that? Go 'hire' an attorney - and he can hash it out for you AFTER you post bond and get out of jail."

[chad]

"Without the hidden compartment law, we would not have had any charges on the suspect," says Combs.

suspect of what?

[ximmy]

"Without the hidden compartment law, we would not have had any charges on the suspect," says Combs.

suspect of what?

Suspect or suspects family may have some money that needs to be gleaned by the state...

The people must suffer

[iOWNme]

suspect of what?

Suspected of disobeying the scribbles of a politican.

[Son-of-Liberty]

What bullshit. Having secret compartment must mean you are a drug dealer.

People transporting diamonds, cash, gold or other valuables have no use for a hidden compartment?

Criminals never break into unattended vehicles?

[iOWNme]

What bullshit. Having secret compartment must mean you are a drug dealer.

People transporting diamonds, cash, gold or other valuables have no use for a hidden compartment?

Criminals never break into unattended vehicles?

Guess what is REALLY being said here:

YOU DONT OWN YOUR CAR.

[ximmy]

secret pockets in clothes

secret slots in wallets

secret rooms in houses

[vacuum]

People transporting diamonds, cash, gold or other valuables have no use for a hidden compartment?

Those are controlled substances, which are (basically) illegal to possess. I think the law is working exactly as intended.

[Son-of-Liberty]

I know people who have had their vehicles broken into for a few coins in an ashtray. If it wasn't a felony having a secret compartment is actually a good idea even to store a couple hundred bucks or a smart phone.