Hidden "Antman Mod" compartment in rear is illegal!

[DEKA3]

I didnt get pulled over. As a matter of fact, I wasnt even driving. I was parked curbside at a meter on a very busy street with many stores and was loading up my truck with the shopping we just did. I had the hatch up and a cop was on foot patrol. Dont know what exactly caught his eye, but he unleashed what seemed to me like an ever-lasting...I'll use the word 'speech' for a lack of a better word... about how my compartments are illegal. Being that my kids were in their carseats with my wife by the passenger door, and I was afraid that he may have sounded like a "mean police officer" to my 7 year-old, i felt it was my duty as a parent to show her that its ok to respectfully explain yourself to any LEO if you arent doing anything illegal. On a side note, I have explained to my kids the benefits/necessity of the police early in their life (unlike many fathers around here. Most just tell their kids that all cops are bad and not to trust them). I explained to the cop that I dont have anything illegal in them, other then bungee cords and straps for tying stuff down on my rack (which I pointed to as I said it). He seemed to understand and when on to tell me that he doesnt see too many trucks like mine on his patrol. I said "Thanks", and we were all on our way.

 

[DEKA3]

A pretty critical part of this story is omitted. The NY law is a specific intent crime, meaning merely having the compartment is not itself unlawful without the requisite intent.

The section defines "Concealed Vehicular Compartment" to be a hidden compartment intended or designed to be used to transport, conceal, hide, or prevent discovery by law enforcement officers of 1) property possessed in violation of law, 2) property used or intended for use in the commission of a crime, or 3) persons in violation of law.

So as long as your compartment is not actually used, intended to be used, or designed to be used for holding one of the three types of items, it is okay. However, the law does include a presumption that your compartment is unlawful if "there are factors from which such intent or design may reasonably be inferred ."


Bottom line: you may have to provide a few explanations, but so long as you're not carrying something in there that you shouldn't be carrying... you will likely be just fine.

I didnt really look into the law that much. Just googled some stuff pertaining to my local precinct and thats what I found.

 

[DEKA3]

Out of curiosity, ...

On a lighter not, Qjake, how is your modded grill guard holding up?

 

[gray street]

New york also disregards the second amendment so I'm not surprised or feel bad for people living there.

 

[DEKA3]

New york also disregards the second amendment so I'm not surprised or feel bad for people living there.

And its only getting worse!

 

[WhiskeyCop]

Sounds to me like a rookie trying to feel important by explaining everything that he didn't learn in the academy, but good for you or teaching your children that police officers are not bad (most of them) and serve a purpose in society.

I didnt get pulled over. As a matter of fact, I wasnt even driving. I was parked curbside at a meter on a very busy street with many stores and was loading up my truck with the shopping we just did. I had the hatch up and a cop was on foot patrol. Dont know what exactly caught his eye, but he unleashed what seemed to me like an ever-lasting...I'll use the word 'speech' for a lack of a better word... about how my compartments are illegal. Being that my kids were in their carseats with my wife by the passenger door, and I was afraid that he may have sounded like a "mean police officer" to my 7 year-old, i felt it was my duty as a parent to show her that its ok to respectfully explain yourself to any LEO if you arent doing anything illegal. On a side note, I have explained to my kids the benefits/necessity of the police early in their life (unlike many fathers around here. Most just tell their kids that all cops are bad and not to trust them). I explained to the cop that I dont have anything illegal in them, other then bungee cords and straps for tying stuff down on my rack (which I pointed to as I said it). He seemed to understand and when on to tell me that he doesnt see too many trucks like mine on his patrol. I said "Thanks", and we were all on our way.

 

[Bourbonator]

I would not be surprised if California does not come out with a law like that too.
We already cannot carry a firearm in our vehicles (with out a CCW permit) unless it is separate from the ammunition (including the detachable mag) and locked in the trunk or in a locked case out of reach of the driver. We cannot even think about using a hand held cell phone when driving. And god forbid you get caught with out your seat belt on, even if you are just taking your jacket off while sitting at a stop light,

New York and California seem to have the least civil freedom of all the states.

I often joke to a friend of mine who smokes that soon the state will require a permit or license to purchase and use tobacco products. Just a joke, but I would not be too surprised if in the next ten years or so they do it.

Yeah, shouldn't be too far off since they just started issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens... oh wait, you only need a driver's license to vote, right?

 

[GrantK]

Yeah, shouldn't be too far off since they just started issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens... oh wait, you only need a driver's license to vote, right?

Which is why most motor-voter laws are anti-American

 

[SigSense]

Like anything that the federal/state governments try to curtail, this is a fail. Honestly, what's next, a ban on hiding places in our homes?

 

[phillyd2]

I was conflicted about this with my kid but have decided to go the other way. While I do teach her that we are a nation based on the rule of law which must be respected I more emphasize the responsibility of a free citizen in a constitutional republic and the limits set by our constitution on the state.

In my way of thinking, 'I don't have anything illegal' is not the standard when dealing with any agent of the state. The burden of proof rest of them to show probable cause, not me to prove my innocents'. This of course comes at a cost. We were recently pulled over in NY and was demanded to allow a search of our car, not the 4R. I refused and was told that I will be delayed for hours as they bought a drug sniffing dog and if he detected anything they would rip my car apart. Despite pleas from inside my car to just to go along I held strong and refused. Long story short but after about 45 mins the doggie arrived, sensed nothing and we were on our way.

Here is the thing, to me anyway - we are either a free people or not. The .gov is either restricted by the constitution or not. We either have constitutional protected rights or we don't

Under the banner of 'safety' and 'we have done nothing wrong' we as a people have allowed the .gov to do as they please regardless of the constitution. This I think is very dangerous as the more we give the more they take. Bloomberg is in a class by himself as a self appointed cheerleader for the nanny state.

So NO - I do not consent to be searched. I do not and have not shown ID when asked when just walking down the street.

Note - my friend the OP's situation is slightly different as his tailgate was open the LEO could clearly see into his vehicle which gave him probable cause. I speaking here more in general terms.

I think I posted this here before but its worth doing so again. Watch it. Learn it. Live it.

Dont Talk to Police - YouTube

Hidden "Antman Mod" compartment in rear is illegal? F' Them!

Sorry for the rant. :cheers:

 

[Atlanta_man]

I did a little research.
Turns out the GA law on hidden vehicle compartments is more restrictive than the one in NY.

Is anything legal anymore ?

 

[Eagle]

Like anything that the federal/state governments try to curtail, this is a fail. Honestly, what's next, a ban on hiding places in our homes?

There is not a ban on hiding places. There is a ban on hiding places intended to conceal otherwise illegal things. The key is the intent.

Drugs are illegal.
A hiding spot intended for drugs is illegal.
A hiding spot intended for bungee cords... not illegal.

I haven't done a comprehensive analysis, but most of these laws do not make it illegal to have a "hiding place," only to have a hiding place that is designed or intended to be used to hide something illegal (drugs, weapons, people, etc).

As I said before, you might have to answer a few questions to explain the compartment, but you will not likely face anything more serious unless you are doing something else that is illegal.

I get that having to explain yourself may be seen as an invasion of rights by the government... but most people here (I think) are not going to run afoul of these laws [over eager enforcement by rookie foot patrols aside]. And if you do, you were probably already doing something you shouldn't have been doing

 

[Eagle]

I did a little research.
Turns out the GA law on hidden vehicle compartments is more restrictive than the one in NY.

Is anything legal anymore ?

Actually, they're pretty similar and I would say the NY law is more invasive. Like the NY law, the GA law makes it illegal to have a hidden compartment where the purpose is to conceal (i) a person unlawfully; (ii) Controlled substances; or (iii) Other contraband.

Like the NY law, that does not make any hidden compartment illegal... only hidden compartments mean to hide something that is itself illegal.

And the GA law limits the scope of the presumption of intent. NY uses general language ("factors from which such intent or design may reasonably be inferred"). GA law specifically enumerates when the intent can be inferred, which means GA is more narrowly defined than NY.

 

[Atlanta_man]

The word 'purpose' is mighty subjective.
I know how the cop would see it if I had something illegal that he found (eventually) in the little over-the-glovebox hiding place.
I'm betting something illegal in there would get charges that would stick, both for the illegal item and the hiding place.

Hope they don't outlaw hiding places in my house.

 

[WFO_Racer]

New York and a Democrat , that figures.

I thought we in the People's Republik of Kalifornia after 40 straight years of Democratic dictatorship that has taken us from a leader state to near BK and one of the worst school systems in the nation had the monopoly of dullard elected officials with Feinstein and Boxer ( two complete waste of female vagina to ever leave the kitchen ).

Sadly I don't feel so bad for my state ( nope yes I do ) :cry2:

 

[emelianenkov]

On a lighter not, Qjake, how is your modded grill guard holding up?

That's about the only thing that is holding up on his truck :lmao: On a recent wheeling trip, after neglecting to re-torque the UCA bolts, his wheel kinda folded into the wheel well and made the rest of us have to turn around to repair it. His truck DOES look awesome though! I just like giving him a hard time for how he torments my street tires. :flamethrwoer2:

 

[Jeremy556]

I may, or may not, have a banned/CARB illegal, fuel spout in the built in, hidden, compartment of my T4r.:flipoff:

 

[Blitzburgh99]

,

New York and California seem to have the least civil freedom of all the states.

Two of the most liberal states in the United States.....and you want to vote for Obama again, why?

 

[shawn719]

Two of the most liberal states in the United States.....and you want to vote for Obama again, why?

Only liberal when it comes to sex and drugs - everything else is olice:

No thanks...

 

[Eagle]

The word 'purpose' is mighty subjective.
I know how the cop would see it if I had something illegal that he found (eventually) in the little over-the-glovebox hiding place.
I'm betting something illegal in there would get charges that would stick, both for the illegal item and the hiding place.

Yes, if you have something illegal that is in a hidden compartment, you have violated the law and the officer would absolutely be right and charges should "stick" for both. That is exactly what the law is designed to do.


If you have bungee cords or anything else NOT illegal (like a normal person), then you don't have to worry. Actually "purpose" has a more defined meaning than you might think. Plus, as previously mentioned, the GA law sets forth 6 specific events where intent. Those rather narrowly define the interpretation of "purpose" to when the hidden compartment:

1) is concealing a person for unlawful purposes;
2) is concealing drugs;
3) is concealing other contraband;
4) shows evidence of previous concealment of a person for unlawful purposes 5) shows evidence of previous concealment of drugs; or
6) shows evidence of previous concealment of other contraband.

As long as you aren't currently hiding people, drugs, or contraband (or show evidence that you previously did), then there is no presumption of intent.