Ohio has begun arresting drivers for "hidden compartments" in vehicles

ElPaso Pilot

ElPaso Pilot

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ElPaso Pilot
In other wacky police state news, Ohio has begun arresting drivers for their new felony of "designing, building, constructing, fabricating, modifying, or altering a vehicle to create or add a hidden compartment" as the war on drugs continues to expand without limit.

http://www.infowars.com/ohio-man-arrested-for-driving-car-with-empty-hidden-compartment/

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...rugs-or-illegal-items-so-why-was-he-arrested/

Police in Lorain County, Ohio, arrested a man Wednesday after they found a hidden compartment on his vehicle. When officers opened the compartment, they found no drugs or illegal substances – yet the man was still arrested charged with a felony.

After they pulled Gurley over for speeding, state troopers apparently “noticed several wires running to the back of the car,” according to WKYC.

“During the search, they noticed some components inside the vehicle that did not appear to be factory,” Lt. Michael Combs of the Ohio State Highway Patrol told WKYC. “We figured it out and followed the wiring and we were able to get it open.”

Combs says Gurley was “apparently caught.. between runs, so to speak,” assuming his vehicle was modified in order to transport illegal drugs.

But the fact that he wasn’t in possession of drugs doesn’t matter, says WKYC, “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,” remarked Lt. Combs.
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You don't even have to use or even actually build a hidden compartment. Apparently, a napkin sketch of one may qualify as felony design. :mad2:

Just one more way for Ohio's finest to confiscate property, I guess. :nonod:
 
Looks like all of the sections as written only apply when you have "the intent to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance."

So, using those compartment to smuggle midgets is still OK.
 
Well, the law was passed, so I would guess that they expect it to be enforced. Interesting though, because I found a little hidden compartment the other day while I was vacuuming, under the rear floorboards of my new Ford Escape. Of course, it sounds like factory installed hiding places are OK.
 
Just don't install a lockbox for your pistol in a hidden area in the back of your car.
 
wsuffa said:
Just don't install a lockbox for your pistol in a hidden area in the back of your car.
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That's actually legal under the statute.

(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.
 
EdFred said:
Looks like all of the sections as written only apply when you have "the intent to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance."

So, using those compartment to smuggle midgets is still OK.
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Please someone tell me how Officer Fife determines your intent of the potential future use of a "compartment" during a speeding violation?
 
ElPaso Pilot said:
Please someone tell me how Officer Fife determines your intent of the potential future use of a "compartment" during a speeding violation?
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They would most likely have to test it for residue of a controlled substance. No residue = no intent, and that's what I would argue in court.
 
I see this case being fought up the U.S. Supreme Court. Some stuff is just stupid.
 
EdFred said:
They would most likely have to test it for residue of a controlled substance. No residue = no intent, and that's what I would argue in court.
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Just don't put any paper cash in the container. I've read that there's drug residue in minute amounts on just about every dollar bill in circulation.
 
Witmo said:
Just don't put any paper cash in the container. I've read that there's drug residue in minute amounts on just about every dollar bill in circulation.
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In some states, a wad of cash in a car is enough to trigger a seizure anyway.
 
EdFred said:
They would most likely have to test it for residue of a controlled substance. No residue = no intent, and that's what I would argue in court.
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I operate a legitimate retail business and place the register cash in a hidden compartment in my vehicle to assure its safety while I stop off at the grocery store on the way to a bank.

Since nearly all US cash has controlled substance residue, so now does my compartment.

Does that give Officer Fife reason to charge me with a felony?

Besides, by my reading, the statue doesn't claim you actually have to transport contraband ... you only have to have to design or build a compartment with the "intent to facilitate concealment or transportation."

This is more like intent to facilitate police work on-the-cheap in my book.
 
Unconstitutional for vagueness. Just a matter of time.
 
Sounds more to me like a way to pad the charges of an arrest. The only way they'll know you have a secret compartment is if they find it, and the only way they'll find it is if they look for it. Wouldn't that mean they need a warrant or permission? I wonder how they were able to search the car in the original post?
 
EdFred said:
Looks like all of the sections as written only apply when you have "the intent to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance."

So, using those compartment to smuggle midgets is still OK.
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I hide my Buckeyes in mine, this will be the currency of choice in the new world order.
 
Another case of, "May we search your vehicle, sir?" "If you've got nothing to hide, why make us wait on a warrant?"
I tell my kids, who generally aren't doing anything (that I know of) wrong, to never let law enforcement search their cars. I am sure they may cave in and let them, but no reason during a routine speeding ticket to have your car searched.:no:

I will say a used car dealer down the street got busted 15 or so years ago for adding compartments to cars for guys to tended to pay cash for real expensive used cars. :dunno: I think he was also taking and not reporting large cash transactions from young guys that didn't appear to be "Trust Fund babies" :nono:
 
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Any one that allows me to turn a "useless Nut of little known economic value" into currency!!!!

I try not to discriminate!
 
ElPaso Pilot said:
I operate a legitimate retail business and place the register cash in a hidden compartment in my vehicle to assure its safety while I stop off at the grocery store on the way to a bank.

Since nearly all US cash has controlled substance residue, so now does my compartment.

Does that give Officer Fife reason to charge me with a felony?
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If those deposits are less than $10,000 you run the risk of the feds seizing your assets for not making deposits over $10,000 (which have to be reported). (There have been at least a couple cases locally this year.)
 
Welcome to Police State Amerika. Heaven forbid someone use a control substance.
 
steingar said:
Welcome to Police State Amerika. Heaven forbid someone use a control substance.
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Sounds like reasonable suspicion that you sir may be a criminal. The Columbia Police chief will work on finding you. :rofl:
 
Matthew said:
The only way they'll know you have a secret compartment is if they find it, and the only way they'll find it is if they look for it. Wouldn't that mean they need a warrant or permission?
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DING DING DING!

And they find out it's there via Confidential Informants, or flipping someone one someone else.
What this statute does is allow them to get a warrant for a vehicle based on the fact that it has a compartment (based on testimony from the witness/informant/undercover), rather than having to generate probable cause that the vehicle will have an illegal substance in at at some specific time and place.
"We were searching for the compartment we had a warrant for, and were shocked, shocked I say to discover drugs and guns in it!
 
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