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Why should installing hidden compartments be illegal? As the article states, they are "a popular luxury item among the wealthy and shady alike". Is having large

Why should installing hidden compartments be illegal? As the article states, they are "a popular luxury item among the wealthy and shady alike". Is having large amounts of cash in your vehicle illegal? Do you believe distributing BitTorrent and Tor should be illegal as well? After all, they're used for copyright infringement and other nefarious purposes, but also distributing Linux distibutions and avoiding totalitarian government surveillance. If we considered providing everything that could possibly be used for illegal purposes "aiding and abetting" then nearly everyone would be criminals.

aidenn0 14y ago
Having $800k in cash in your vehicle is in fact illegal in California.
- tlrobinson 14y ago
  Well that's bullshit (the law, that is)
- sneak 14y ago
  ...once again winning the competition for worst state ever.
  - 3825 14y ago
    I think the 10k cash in person limit comes from the patriot act which is nationwide. Being the largest state, California does arguably near the most of the responsibility for the tragedy that is the patriot act but calling it the worst state is not fair. Did California have a law prohibiting transporting large sums of cash before? Can you link me please?
    - sneak 14y ago
      The PATRIOT Act does not prohibit carrying cash. You are thinking of the $10k limit on undeclared currency at the border. That's pre-PATRIOT.
      - madaxe 14y ago
        I still love that on the same landing form where they say: "Are you carrying > $10k in cash" they also ask "Are you a terrorist?" and "Are you a nazi war criminal?" Has anyone ever checked the "Yes" box to either of those?!
        jessaustin 14y ago
        Probably everyone born after 1945 should start checking the "nazi war criminal" one, but I'm not brave enough to be the first.
        rhizome 14y ago
        I'm gonna guess many "false statement" charges come from these.
rayiner 14y ago
It's not having hidden compartments that's illegal. It's building hidden compartments for people when you know they will be used for illegal purposes. It's simple accomplice liability. See my rant on people ignoring context.
- mindcrime 14y ago
  While you may be technically correct according to current "law" as defined by the government, I posit that there is absolutely nothing wrong with building said secret compartments under those circumstances. If you haven't initiated force or fraud against someone and violated their rights, you probably haven't committed a crime.
- Confusion 14y ago
  You don't know it will be used for illegal purposes, unless they explicitly tell you so. Otherwise, if you assume they will be used for illegal activities, for instance based on the appearance and behavior of the owner, you are discriminating and can be sued for that. If you refuse someone service because he's black, you are wrong. If you refuse someone service because you think he's a criminal, you are wrong again. If you provide someone service despite thinking he may be a criminal, you are also wrong. It's a lose-lose situation. Best not offer services that may be used for criminal activities. /s

aidenn0 14y ago

Having $800k in cash in your vehicle is in fact illegal in California.

tlrobinson 14y ago
Well that's bullshit (the law, that is)
sneak 14y ago
...once again winning the competition for worst state ever.
- 3825 14y ago
  I think the 10k cash in person limit comes from the patriot act which is nationwide. Being the largest state, California does arguably near the most of the responsibility for the tragedy that is the patriot act but calling it the worst state is not fair. Did California have a law prohibiting transporting large sums of cash before? Can you link me please?
  - sneak 14y ago
    The PATRIOT Act does not prohibit carrying cash. You are thinking of the $10k limit on undeclared currency at the border. That's pre-PATRIOT.
    - madaxe 14y ago
      I still love that on the same landing form where they say: "Are you carrying > $10k in cash" they also ask "Are you a terrorist?" and "Are you a nazi war criminal?" Has anyone ever checked the "Yes" box to either of those?!
      - jessaustin 14y ago
        Probably everyone born after 1945 should start checking the "nazi war criminal" one, but I'm not brave enough to be the first.
      - rhizome 14y ago
        I'm gonna guess many "false statement" charges come from these.

rayiner 14y ago

It's not having hidden compartments that's illegal. It's building hidden compartments for people when you know they will be used for illegal purposes. It's simple accomplice liability. See my rant on people ignoring context.

mindcrime 14y ago
While you may be technically correct according to current "law" as defined by the government, I posit that there is absolutely nothing wrong with building said secret compartments under those circumstances. If you haven't initiated force or fraud against someone and violated their rights, you probably haven't committed a crime.
Confusion 14y ago
You don't know it will be used for illegal purposes, unless they explicitly tell you so. Otherwise, if you assume they will be used for illegal activities, for instance based on the appearance and behavior of the owner, you are discriminating and can be sued for that. If you refuse someone service because he's black, you are wrong. If you refuse someone service because you think he's a criminal, you are wrong again. If you provide someone service despite thinking he may be a criminal, you are also wrong. It's a lose-lose situation. Best not offer services that may be used for criminal activities. /s