SENATE DOCKET, NO. 775        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1793

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to the illegal use of motor vehicle hides..

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 94C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is amended by adding the following new section after section 32K:-

Section 32L.  Motor vehicle hide; use in distribution of controlled substances and paraphernalia; penalties.

As used in this section, a “hide” shall be defined as any secret, hidden or false compartment that has been installed in a motor vehicle after-market, any factory-designed natural void occurring within the automobile, or any after-market created or modified void that is electronically, mechanically, or manually operated to gain access to it.

Any person who uses a hide space within a motor vehicle to secrete or store contraband or evidence, including, but not limited to, money or other proceeds, firearms or other weapons, packaging materials, or any other items related to the manufacturing, distribution or dispensing or the intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense any illegal drug or controlled substance in violation of chapter 94C of the General Laws shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than three years and not more than five years, or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than two and one half years. No sentence imposed under the provisions of this section shall be for less than a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years. The penalty for a second or subsequent offense shall be imprisonment in the state prison for not less than five and not more than ten years.