ANTI-DRUG BILL COULD CONFUSE PRIVACY, SECRECY

How many of you have a safe in your home? What about a secret place
in a closet or drawer where you hide money or mementos or anything
else? Perhaps it's a truly elaborate hiding place, because what you
want to conceal is so valuable or treasured that you never want
anyone else to find it or see it.

Is there anything wrong with these types of arrangements? Of course not.

It's your home and you can hide what you want, how you want it,
right? If you agree with all that, then our question is: Why should a
car be any different? State Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, is
well-intentioned, but seriously misguided when he proposes a new
state law making it a felony for people to "have any compartment,
space or box" in their vehicle for the purposes of hiding illegal items.

Let's really think about this. If this law were passed, it would make
it illegal to have empty space in your vehicle.

Empty space. Why could it possibly be the government's business if
you want to conceal something in your car? Some folks might want to
hide sensitive documents, cash, legally possessed guns or a computer.

Moore says he filed the bill at the request of the Cleveland County
Sheriff's Office, whose officers lament that sometimes they pull over
vehicles after drugs have been delivered. That is, the secret
compartment is empty. Sorry, folks, but this is not the way our
country should work. Innocent until proven empty? Give us a break!

This is like saying, "Your car is capable of going 180 mph, so we're
going to charge you with speeding."

Carrying illegal contraband is illegal. Carrying space where illegal
contraband may or may not be hidden is not.

By the way, what constitutes a "secret space" and how does one
distinguish between secret spaces created for sinister, criminal
intent and those created for harmless reasons?

Rep. Moore's colleagues in the N.C. House should make no secret of
their opposition to this piece of legislation.