Bill Text: MA H3530 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced

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Bill Title: Hidden compartments in vehicles and the use of contraband found in such compartments as evidence

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-01-20 - Public Hearing date 7/14 at 11:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium [H3530 Detail]

Download: Massachusetts-2009-H3530-Introduced.html

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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Karyn E. Polito

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
                Court assembled:

                The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to hidden compartments in vehicles operated in the commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:	District/Address:
Karyn E. Polito	11th Worcester
Paul K. Frost	7th Worcester
Todd M. Smola	1st Hampden

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

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An Act relative to hidden compartments in vehicles operated in the commonwealth.

                Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

            Section 1: Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws is hereby amended by adding after Section 9D the following section 9E: No person shall manufacture, sell, offer for sale or trade, or operate a vehicle, in the commonwealth equipped with compartments designed for the purpose of concealing contraband.  ‘Vehicle’ includes, but is not limited to, cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, aircrafts, helicopters, boats, ships, yachts, and other vessels.  ‘Compartments’ means any enclosure that is intended and designed to be used to conceal, hide, or prevent discovery by law enforcement officers of the compartment, or its contents, and which is integrated into or attached to a vehicle.  The term ‘compartments’ includes, but is not limited to:

(i)                 False, altered, or modified fuel tanks;

(ii)               Any original factory equipment on a vehicle that has been modified to conceal, hide, or prevent discovery of its contents; and

(iii)             Any compartment, space, or box that is added or attached to existing compartments, spaces, or boxes integrated into or attached to a vehicle.

The discovery of contraband in such a compartment shall be evidence of a violation of this section. Violations of any provisions of this section shall be punishable by a fine, suspension of operator’s license or imprisonment.