Senate File 228 - Introduced SENATE FILE 228 BY SODDERS A BILL FOR An Act relating to the use of a false or secret compartment in a 1 motor vehicle, and providing penalties. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1829XS (3) 85 jm/nh

S.F. 228 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 321.284B False compartment in motor 1 vehicle. 2 1. As used in this section, “false or secret compartment” 3 means any box, container, space, or enclosure that is intended 4 or designed to be used to store, conceal, camouflage, hide, 5 smuggle, transport, or prevent discovery of a person, 6 controlled substance, firearm, weapon, or other contraband and 7 that is within or attached to a motor vehicle including but not 8 limited to any of the following: 9 a. A false or altered fuel tank. 10 b. Original factory equipment of a vehicle that is modified, 11 altered, or changed. 12 c. A compartment, space, or box that is added to or 13 fabricated, made, or created from existing compartments, 14 spaces, or boxes within a vehicle. 15 2. A person who owns, operates, or possesses a motor vehicle 16 with the knowledge that the motor vehicle contains a false or 17 secret compartment, and who owns, operates, or possesses the 18 motor vehicle with the intent to store, conceal, camouflage, 19 hide, smuggle, transport, or prevent discovery of a person, 20 controlled substance, firearm, weapon, or other contraband 21 within the false or secret compartment, is guilty of an 22 aggravated misdemeanor. 23 3. A person who knowingly designs, assembles, constructs, 24 builds, alters, fabricates, attaches, fortifies, installs, 25 places, maintains, or causes to be placed a false or secret 26 compartment in a motor vehicle with the intent that the false 27 or secret compartment be used to store, conceal, camouflage, 28 hide, smuggle, transport, or prevent the discovery of a person, 29 controlled substance, firearm, weapon, or other contraband 30 within the false or secret compartment, is guilty of a class 31 “D” felony. 32 4. The fact that the false or secret compartment was 33 inoperable or was not in use or that the existence of the 34 compartment was known to a peace officer is not a defense to a 35 -1- LSB 1829XS (3) 85 jm/nh 1/ 2

S.F. 228 violation of this section. 1 EXPLANATION 2 This bill relates to the use of a false or secret compartment 3 in a motor vehicle, and provides penalties. 4 Under the bill, a person commits an aggravated misdemeanor 5 if the person owns, operates, or possesses a motor vehicle with 6 the knowledge that the motor vehicle contains a false or secret 7 compartment, and the person owns, operates, or possesses the 8 motor vehicle with the intent to hide or prevent the discovery 9 of a person, controlled substance, firearm, weapon, or other 10 contraband within the false or secret compartment. 11 Under the bill, a person commits a class “D” felony if 12 the person designs, assembles, constructs, builds, alters, 13 fabricates, attaches, fortifies, installs, places, or causes to 14 be placed a false or secret compartment, or maintains a false 15 compartment in a motor vehicle with the intent that the false 16 or secret compartment be used to store, conceal, camouflage, 17 hide, smuggle, transport, or prevent the discovery of a person, 18 controlled substance, firearm, weapon, or other contraband 19 within the false or secret compartment. 20 In addition, it shall be no defense in a prosecution for 21 a violation of the bill if the false or secret compartment 22 is inoperable or is not in use, or that the existence of the 23 compartment was known to a peace officer. 24 An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for 25 no more than two years and a fine of at least $625 but not more 26 than $6,250. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement 27 for no more than five years and a fine of at least $750 but not 28 more than $7,500. 29 -2- LSB 1829XS (3) 85 jm/nh 2/ 2