House File 173 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY (SUCCESSOR TO HF 52) Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act prohibiting false compartments in vehicles for the purpose 2 of intentionally concealing or transporting contraband and 3 providing penalties. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 5 TLSB 1684HV 81 6 dea/sh/8 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 733.1 FALSE COMPARTMENTS IN 1 2 VEHICLES == PROHIBITED. 1 3 1. A person shall not possess, use, or control a false 1 4 compartment with the intent to store, conceal, smuggle, or 1 5 transport contraband within the false compartment. A 1 6 violation of this subsection is a serious misdemeanor. 1 7 2. A person shall not construct, build, alter, or 1 8 fabricate a false compartment for, or install or attach a 1 9 false compartment to, a vehicle with the intent to store, 1 10 conceal, smuggle, or transport contraband within the false 1 11 compartment. A violation of this subsection is a serious 1 12 misdemeanor. 1 13 3. A certified peace officer, while investigating a 1 14 violation of this section in the performance of the officer's 1 15 official duties, or any person working under a certified peace 1 16 officer's immediate direction, supervision, or instruction 1 17 pursuant to that investigation, is not subject to prosecution 1 18 under this section. 1 19 4. For purposes of this section, the following definitions 1 20 apply: 1 21 a. "Contraband" means property which is illegally procured 1 22 or property the possession of which is unlawful. "Contraband" 1 23 includes but is not limited to stolen property, illegal 1 24 controlled substances, and illegal weapons. 1 25 b. "False compartment" means any box, container, space, or 1 26 enclosure that is intended or designed for use to conceal, 1 27 hide, or otherwise prevent discovery of contraband and that is 1 28 located within or attached to a vehicle, including but not 1 29 limited to any of the following: 1 30 (1) A false, altered, or modified fuel tank. 1 31 (2) Original factory equipment of a vehicle that is 1 32 modified, altered, or changed. 1 33 (3) A compartment, space, or box that is added to, 1 34 fabricated, made, or created from existing compartments, 1 35 spaces, or boxes within a vehicle. 2 1 c. "Vehicle" means a motor vehicle as defined in section 2 2 321.1, aircraft, recreational vehicle, or watercraft including 2 3 but not limited to a car, truck, bus, boat, ship, yacht, 2 4 vessel, or other means of conveyance, owned or operated by, or 2 5 rented, leased, or loaned to, a person. 2 6 EXPLANATION 2 7 This bill makes it a crime for any person to possess, use, 2 8 or control a false compartment in a vehicle with the intent to 2 9 store, conceal, smuggle, or transport contraband. The bill 2 10 also makes it a crime to construct, build, alter, or fabricate 2 11 a false compartment or to install or attach such a compartment 2 12 to a vehicle with the intent to store, conceal, smuggle, or 2 13 transport contraband. A violation of either provision is a 2 14 serious misdemeanor punishable by confinement for no more than 2 15 one year and a fine of at least $250 but not more than $1,500. 2 16 For purposes of the bill, "contraband" is defined as 2 17 property which is illegally procured or the possession of 2 18 which is unlawful, including but not limited to stolen 2 19 property, illegal controlled substances, and illegal weapons. 2 20 A "false compartment" is defined to mean any box, container, 2 21 space, or enclosure within or attached to a vehicle for use to 2 22 conceal, hide, or otherwise prevent discovery of contraband. 2 23 A "vehicle" is defined as a motor vehicle, aircraft, 2 24 recreational vehicle, watercraft, or other conveyance. 2 25 Certified peace officers who are investigating violations 2 26 of the bill in the performance of their official duties and 2 27 persons working under such peace officers' immediate 2 28 direction, supervision, or instruction pursuant to that 2 29 investigation are not subject to prosecution under the bill. 2 30 LSB 1684HV 81 2 31 dea:rj/sh/8