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Loretta Park
Constructing secret compartments inside of vehicles could be illegal if the intent is to hide illegal drugs, weapons or contraband.
"I've been told there is a business in Weber County that advertises it builds compartments to hide contraband," said Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clinton.
Ray is sponsoring House Bill 30, which makes it illegal to modify any vehicle in order to conceal illegal items and also makes it illegal to own a vehicle with secret compartments with the intent to hide illegal items.
The House passed the bill with a vote of 68-0. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
In response to questions, Ray said the company he referred to is a body shop in Weber County the Attorney General's Office told him about.
When asked the name of the company, Ray said he did not know, but was told by the Attorney General's Office, "the word is on the street they will get the compartments built."
Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Salt Lake City, asked if just having the compartments in a vehicle would be illegal.
"It isn't the compartments that are illegal, but the contraband," Ray said.
It is also up to law enforcement to prove why the vehicle owner would have a secret compartment and why a company would build one, Ray said.
HB#30
Sponsored by: Paul Ray (R-Clinton)
Vehicle Concealing Illegal Items -- This bill would modify the Criminal Code to provide that altering a motor vehicle to facilitate concealing an illegal item is a criminal offense. |
