FALSE OR SECRET COMPARTMENTS IN VEHICLES TO HIDE FIREARMS OR DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES.
Los Angeles Municipal Code § 55.20
in effectSEC. 55.20. FALSE OR SECRET COMPARTMENTS IN VEHICLES TO HIDE FIREARMS OR DESTRUCTIVE DEVICES.
(Added by Ord. No. 180,450, Eff. 2/7/09.)
(a) Definitions.
1. “False or Secret Compartment” means any box, container, space, or enclosure that is intended or designed for use to conceal, hide, or otherwise prevent discovery of any unlawfully possessed firearm or destructive device, within or attached to a vehicle, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(i) False, altered, or modified fuel tanks;
(ii) Original factory equipment of a vehicle that is modified, altered, or changed;
(iii) Compartment, space, or box that is added to, or fabricated, made, or created from, existing compartments, spaces, or boxes within a vehicle.
2. “Vehicle” means any of the following vehicles without regard to whether the vehicles are private or commercial, including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, buses, motor homes, motorcycles, aircraft, boats, ships, yachts, and vessels.
3. “Firearm”, as used in this section, means any pistol, rifle, shotgun or other device designed to be used as a weapon, from which a projectile is expelled through a barrel by the force of an explosion or any form of combustion, or any device that is capable of being altered so as to expel a projectile in that manner. The term firearm includes the frame of such weapon.
4. “Destructive device” means a destructive device as defined in Section 12301 of the California Penal Code.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to possess, use, or control a False or Secret Compartment with the intent to store, conceal, smuggle, or transport any unlawfully possessed firearm or destructive device.
(c) It is unlawful for any person to design, construct, build, alter, or fabricate a False or Secret Compartment for, or install or attach a False or Secret Compartment in or to a vehicle.
(d) Penalty. Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.
(e) Severability. If any provision of this ordinance is found to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, that invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions which can be implemented without the invalid provisions, and to this end, the provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable.
Source: City of Los Angeles, Charter and Codes (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/lamc/0-0-0-210383Fetched: 10/24/2026