The Pennsylvania House approved a bill Monday, by a vote of 114-83, outlawing the criminal use of “secret compartments” in vehicles, CBS Philly reports.
“Cocaine is being transported via the Pennsylvania Turnpike in secret compartments to be distributed in Philadelphia all over the city, and in New Jersey,” says the bill’s sponsor Rep. Kate Harper (R-PA). “The district attorneys’ association has endorsed this bill as another tool that they need.”
Well, that’s good. Because now that the state is one step closer to outlawing “secret compartments,” the type of people who traffic cocaine, weapons, and humans will stop using them, right?
“The bill would make it a crime to have a ‘false or secret’ compartment in a vehicle with the intent to use the compartment criminally,” CBS Philly reports. “A false or secret compartment is defined as an enclosure integrated into a vehicle that represents a modification of the vehicle as originally built by the manufacturer.”
Unsurprisingly, the bill has drawn criticism from a few members of the Pennsylvania House. Opponents of Rep. Harper’s initiative believe that it’ll lead to unreasonable and intrusive law enforcement searches.
“Rep. Brandon Neuman led the opposition. The Washington County Democrat suggested the bill could open the door to police searches of after-market saddle bags on a motorcycle,” WFMZ-TV reports.
“I personally believe that our existing laws adequately go after drug dealers,” Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-PA) said, adding that citizens who put cash or even legally-owned firearms in such compartments would be forced to prove their innocence.
Rep. Harper believes these objections are unfounded and says that the law does not “criminalize secret compartments, only those that are used with criminal intent,” The Republic reports.
“The fears of those who oppose the bill are not founded in reality,” she said.
The bill will now go to the Pennsylvania Senate.
Front page photo source: Criminal Justice Collaboratory. This story has been updated.
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Comments (104)
Common Sense 24
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:43pmDon’t you people know? You are guilty until proven innocent. Just ask the Cowlitz County City Attorney Steve Shuman here in Longview, Washington. His actual statement was, ” The burden of proving innocence lies with the accused”. Makes you feel great and secure knowing they are getting a $244k armored response vehicle now too, courtesy of Homeland Security. This country’s going to hell in a handbasket.
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FreedomPurveyor
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:09pmI love this, a bill that makes it illegal to use something with “criminal intent.”
Think of the possibilities! You can take pretty much any crime and just add another crime in there, and you can fill more jail cells!
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Baddoggy
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:18pmThe Police State just gets bigger and badder…Let’s call them what they are…GESTAPO.
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muffythetuffy
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:34pmI wonder if this will get past the Blaze Censors?
We no longer have any rights because the US Constitution has been voided. It seems that the GOP and Democrats made some kind of deal. If you want it back you will now have to defend it with your life. I do not think many Americans will join you. Why should we fight to restore rights to the people who are determined to destroy our rights. What do you think.
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pavnvet
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:35pmOur legislature never ceases to amaze me. Next if you have a secret pocket in your pants holding the cocaine that will also be made illegal. This is a total waste of time and trees (all the paper).
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muffythetuffy
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:35pmDid Obama order GM to install secret compartments in all GM cars? Has the government planted drugs in every new GM and Chrysler car?
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ManThong
Jun. 19, 2012 at 7:50pmIt’s hard to get much more fascist than that.
The logical next step would seem to be glass houses and clear plastic clothing.
The state is entitled to see all, know all and control all facets of your subservient life.
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FatPolice
Jun. 19, 2012 at 11:04pmHey, does my dog’s pet taxi qualify as a “secret compartment”? Because I plan to mount mine on the roof of my Jeep and then slap a bunch of “Romney for President” bumper stickers on it, ( just to piss off my Lefty neighbors ) but then I do not want to get pulled over on the PA Turnpike when I drive through town…Just sayin’…
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banjarmon
Jun. 19, 2012 at 11:26pmDid somebody leak the secret compartment?
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Rocky_Top
Jun. 20, 2012 at 7:39pm” Criminal Intent ” If a cop finds the compartment without the drugs in it he could still say that you intend to hide drugs in it and arrest you !
(without a permit) It is unlawful to carry a gun with the intent to go armed. So ,if a cop finds a gun on you, all you have to do is say ” I had no intent to go armed” See if that works for you. “I have a hidden compartment but I was not going to hide anything in it honest officer !!”
Next they will go after hidden pockets in your cloths and hidden compartment in your home. You will have to tell the gov about your hidden safe and give them the combo.
I read the book “1984″ last year and thought it was crazy . I asked , “How could it get that bad?” Every day it seams less and less crazy . ” New speak and the thought police “
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g.prunty
Jun. 20, 2012 at 11:37pmagreed
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PRRedlin
Jun. 21, 2012 at 3:34pmYou are all such fools.
Pa has an R gov, r house, and an r senate. The article even states that it was introduced by a republican.
Reading comprehension is key.
Republicans are the statist party who tries to control your actions. I feel sorry for you all.
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blackyb
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:39pmSo I guess **** holes are going to be a separate charge for those who hide drugs there?
I have never figured out how they could do that and not about to experiment.
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TheLeftMadeMeRight
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:38pmYa, but you’re self-admittedly curious about it, that’s always how it starts…….sorry.
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Brian Williams
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:39pmIt’s good to have a secret compartment. In some area’s people are stopped for no reason and cash and other items are being confiscated.
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TheLeftMadeMeRight
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:41pmIn the secret compartment of my ring I fill, with an underdog super energy pill!
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jonboy1903
Jun. 19, 2012 at 7:12pmSecret compartments? Everyone knows when you have a false wall bulging or compartment duct-taped into place. This is another stupid liberal mind-control manuever. We might as well outlaw teats on a bull.
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omgfolks
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:39pmDumb Azz Idea, been fighting this doomed war on drugs for so long cops think taking citizen rights is normal. cops and law makers are about eat up with this take your rights away theory they seem to have. Why make illegal hidden compartments why not take away the cars and the planes and everything else that people own, everything could be used for illegal intent, so take away everything everyone owns. This way we can do what police say when they say and how they say and no more crime will ever happen.. What a f’ing load of crap.
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CHANGE IT BACK
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:37pmDoes this include the body cavities of the driver and passengers? Where does it end? Oh my!
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marcus_arealius
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:41pmExactly what I was thinking. Your secret colon.
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neidermeyer
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:41pmI’m going to turn in my neighbor .. he has a subwoofer in a box behind the seat and he could stuff something through the port …
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CHANGE IT BACK
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:42pmWhat is Rep. Kate Harper’s association with the TSA? Can you imagine getting groped during a routine traffic stop? Yuk!
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hayesstephen
Jun. 19, 2012 at 7:17pmThere is no end in sight and actually there is no end. They will take, and take until we are slaves and owing our lives to the pols. White Liberal Trash is responsible for all of this.
Look for obama to declare martial law before the elections. This nation is doomed by stupid White Liberal Trash.
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goldmankc
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:36pmthey need to outlaw them big a$$ afros, you can hide a city bus in one of those.
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Evil_Conservative
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:33pmwhat if you add a compartment to your car for security purposes? like to hide something valuble incase of a breakin?
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RepubliCorp
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:15pmQ: What ya is jail for?
A: I installed a built in tool box
no really?
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cliffchism
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:32pmSO, you bust a guy and he’s got cocaine in a secret compartment. What are you going to do? Tack on the secret compartment to make sure this guy goes to prison?
Then, you bust a guy with a secret compartment, no cocaine, and no residue. So, now you’ve got a guy in jail for not having cocaine.
Freakin idiocy.
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Brian Williams
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:32pmThe 4th Amendment; Authorities have no right to search your car without probable cause.
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Baddoggy
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:22pmPfffffffffffttttttttttttttttttttt! The 4th Ammendment died a lomg time ago with the Patriot act, NDAA and the TSA….You have no 4th Ammendment rights. Dont be silly….
The revolution will begin someday. maybe when I kick a TSA agebnts a@@ in the airport and go to jail….I am supposed to fly for the first time in 10 years in a couple of months. I can tell you, they better not touch the junk….
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booger71
Jun. 19, 2012 at 7:18pmGetem Doggy
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Evil_Conservative
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:31pmBlatantly unconstitutional
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vanman4446
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:29pmPA I can’t believe that state is so dumb.
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john koenig
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:28pmThis is already the law in Ohio.
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Maxim Crux
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:34pmUPDATE: SB 305 Vehicle Hidden Compartment Bill Passes in Ohio House (and Senate)
http://www.ohiolibertycoalition.org/sb-305-vehicle-hidden-compartment-bill-passes-in-ohio-house/
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eramthgin
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:28pmHow stupid! Of couse this is from a progressively liberal state that wants to outlaw everything. Only problem is that only the law abiding will comply.
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Bill Rowland
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:35pmHEY, they outlawed guns in Chicago, Washington DC and NYC. That stopped the shootings so why wouldn’t this stupid law stop people from making and using “secret” compartments.
OMG Nov 6, 2012
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Thwarkmaster
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:27pmWe’re seeing a phenomenon called “progressivism”. With tens of millions of cars on the road in your city, what percentage of motorists carry contraband in secret places in their automobiles? That’s a teeny weeny number. Certainly a greater percentage of motorists have secret places in their cars in which to hide their property from burglars. ‘ “The bill would make it a crime to have a ‘false or secret’ compartment in a vehicle with the intent to use the compartment criminally,” ‘
Officer: “You have intent.”
Motorist: “No, I don’t.”
Guess what: You have intent. In 2012, you are guilty until proven innocent.
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Ohello
Jun. 19, 2012 at 10:13pmI agree the presence of a secret compartment becomes “probable cause” thus illegal search and seize becomes legal. I avoid the terahertz screeners at airports I always ask the TSA agent what it is about me gives him probable cause that I am a threat to the security of the air travel system? An I ask if he has no reason then where is his warrant? His answer is that my avoidance of the scanner is probable cause . Try it sometime when you travel Then ask the agent why he is violating his oath of office? He will tell you that jthere is no Constitutional right to travel let alone travel without harassment by the TSA.
TSA IS SEARCHING VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAYS UNDER THE SAME JUSTIFICATION AS AT AIRPORTS. The camel is in the tent.
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freeberty
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:25pmHey, how is that war on drugs going? If you are not for decriminalization then you are for government intrusion in all aspects of your life.
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ilovetheusa1
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:24pmhow f’en stupid is this idea. when smart people become politicians, it really seems to make them the dumbest people on earth, similar to the clowns in Chicago. do these people really believe that because they made this illegal, that the perps are going to stop doing it. what a waste of time.
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Baddoggy
Jun. 19, 2012 at 6:23pmA smart person became a Politician? When? Never happened….
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undercover
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:23pmThis doesn’ t make any sense – if a secret campartment is found to carry contraband the contraband itself is enough prosecute. If a secret compartment is empty and they cannot prove it ever contained contraband there is no intent to prosecute. Unless they intend to add the illegal secret compartment to the drug charge to increase sentencing.. Either way… WHAAAAT?
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Red Meat
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:22pmStrike traveling to Penn for anything.
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SocialistSlayer
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:21pmAmerica – We are losing Freedom one law at a time. Like the frog being slowly boiled to death we are doomed. Give me Freedom or give me Death!
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Maximus_Delta
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:21pmwell that’s going to stop the criminals… what a bunch of crock…
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:21pmOne more tool being added to a full arsenal on part of the progressives goal of domination across the board.
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bassist237
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:19pmThey’ll just find something else to “stuff” it in… criminals will be criminals. Illegal gunholders will always be illegal gunholders… Pot smokers will be pot smokers – the list goes on. You can’t stop dumb, but you can be responsible for yourself and your actions.
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nocomment
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:18pmBigger government… it grows like a cancer until checked by the people.
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marcus_arealius
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:38pmYes, government IS a cancer.
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The_Jerk
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:18pmFools of government.
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65Plus
Jun. 19, 2012 at 5:18pmOh boy! Pennsylvania! Home of Gangsterism!
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