HB161 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve McMillan

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Motor vehicles, aircraft and vessels, false or secret compartments to unlawfully store firearms or controlled substances prohibited, criminal penalties, forfeiture

Summary

HB161 would ban false or secret compartments in cars, planes, and boats to hide illegal items, impose penalties, and allow seizure of the vehicle and its contents.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits knowingly owning, operating, installing, creating, building, or fabricating a motor vehicle, aircraft, or vessel with a false or secret compartment used to conceal contraband or controlled substances. Violations are Class D felonies and the vehicle, the compartment, and any items inside can be seized and forfeited under state law. A new owner is not liable for pre-transfer conduct if they had no knowledge and restore the vehicle to its original design when made aware of the modification. The bill defines key terms and notes it is exempt from local-funds requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates a new crime or amends an existing one, with an effective date specified in the act.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who own, operate, install, create, build, or fabricate a motor vehicle, aircraft, or vessel with a false or secret compartment to conceal contraband or controlled substances would face criminal penalties and possible forfeiture.
• Law enforcement and the state would have authority to seize and forfeit vehicles, compartments, and contents involved, and to enforce the new crime.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits owning, operating, installing, creating, building, or fabricating a motor vehicle, aircraft, or vessel with a false or secret compartment used to conceal contraband or controlled substances.
• Violations are Class D felonies and allow seizure and forfeiture of the vehicle or vessel and any contents in the compartment.
• Defines terms: aircraft, false or secret compartment, motor vehicle, and vessel.
• Provides that a new owner is not criminally liable for pre-transfer conduct if they had no knowledge and restore the vehicle to its original design when aware of the modification.
• States the act is exempt from the local funds requirement of Amendment 621 because it creates a new crime or amends an existing one, and sets its effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses