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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	December 13, 2012 04:32 PM
From:	Representative Kate Harper
To:	All House members
Subject:	Cosponsorship - Making False Compartments a Criminal Offense - FORMER HB 1521

In the near future, I plan on reintroducing former HB 1521 which creates a new provision entitled Unlawful False or Secret Compartment in Title 18 (Crimes Code) and creates a new provision in Title 42 (Judicial Code) providing for forfeiture of vehicles with unlawful false or secret compartments. Under current law it is not a crime to possess, own or design a vehicle with concealed compartments. These compartments are used to avoid complying with multiple state laws including drug smuggling and avoiding taxes on cigarettes. 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. Additionally, any person who, acting with an unlawful purpose knowingly designs, assembles, constructs, builds, alters, fabricates, attaches, fortifies, installs, places, causes to be placed or maintains a false compartment in a motor vehicle with the intent to store, conceal camouflage, hide, smuggle, transport or prevent discovery of a person, controlled substance, firearm, weapon or other contraband within the false compartment commits a second degree misdemeanor. In addition to any penalty associated with the violations listed above, any individual who is convicted under this section will also be subject to a license suspension of 1 year for a first offense and 2 years for a second or subsequent offense. This license suspension also includes CDL licenses. Please join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation. PREVIOUS COSPONSORS: CALTAGIRONE, DeLUCA, FARRY, HACKETT, HENNESSEY, HESS, MURT, PASHINSKI, PEIFER, SWANGER, VEREB AND WATSON

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