Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 2923
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.241 (2026)

Hidden compartments in vehicles

✓ laws through the 2026 session (checked Sept. 2026)
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Effective:
September 28, 2012
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 305 - 129th General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as in section 3719.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Hidden compartment" means a container, space, or enclosure that conceals, hides, or otherwise prevents the discovery of the contents of the container, space, or enclosure. "Hidden compartment" includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(a) False, altered, or modified fuel tanks;

(b) Any original factory equipment on a vehicle that has been modified to conceal, hide, or prevent the discovery of the modified equipment's contents;

(c) Any compartment, space, box, or other closed container that is added or attached to existing compartments, spaces, boxes, or closed containers integrated or attached to a vehicle.

(3) "Vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 4511.01 of the Revised Code and includes, but is not limited to, a motor vehicle, commercial tractor, trailer, noncommercial trailer, semitrailer, mobile home, recreational vehicle, or motor home.

(4) "Motor vehicle," "commercial trailer," "trailer," "noncommercial trailer," "semitrailer," "mobile home," "manufacturer," "recreational vehicle," and "motor home" have the same meanings as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Motor vehicle dealer" has the same meaning as in section 4517.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person shall knowingly design, build, construct, or fabricate a vehicle with a hidden compartment, or modify or alter any portion of a vehicle in order to create or add a hidden compartment, with the intent to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance.

(C) No person shall knowingly operate, possess, or use a vehicle with a hidden compartment with knowledge that the hidden compartment is used or intended to be used to facilitate the unlawful concealment or transportation of a controlled substance.

(D) No person who has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of aggravated trafficking in drugs under section 2925.03 of the Revised Code that is a felony of the first or second degree shall operate, possess, or use a vehicle with a hidden compartment.

(E) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of designing a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance. Except as otherwise provided in this division, designing a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (B) of this section, designing a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the third degree.

(F) Whoever violates division (C) or (D) of this section is guilty of operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance. Except as otherwise provided in this division, operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the fourth degree. Except as otherwise provided in this division, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (C) or (D) of this section, operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the third degree. If the hidden compartment contains a controlled substance at the time of the offense, operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance is a felony of the second degree.

(G) This section does not apply to any law enforcement officer acting in the performance of the law enforcement officer's duties.

(H)(1) This section does not apply to any licensed motor vehicle dealer or motor vehicle manufacturer that in the ordinary course of business repairs, purchases, receives in trade, leases, or sells a motor vehicle.

(2) This section does not impose a duty on a licensed motor vehicle dealer to know, discover, report, repair, or disclose the existence of a hidden compartment to any person.

(I) This section does not apply to a box, safe, container, or other item added to a vehicle for the purpose of securing valuables, electronics, or firearms provided that at the time of discovery the box, safe, container, or other item added to the vehicle does not contain a controlled substance or visible residue of a controlled substance.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 2018–2026 · leading case: State v. Gomez, 2019-Ohio-481, 130 N.E.3d 1065.
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State v. Gomez, 2019-Ohio-481, 130 N.E.3d 1065. · cites it 30× “{¶57} In his Fifth Assignment of Error, Gomez argues that R.C. 2923.241 is unconstitutional per se and as applied to his case.”
State v. Double, 2021-Ohio-632, 168 N.E.3d 899. · cites it 37× “Double’s vehicle contained a hidden compartment for purposes 6 of Section 2923.241. The trial court primarily relied upon State v.”
State v. Moscoso, 2018-Ohio-2877. · cites it 3× “01 of the Revised Code. (2) “Hidden compartment” means a container, space, or enclosure that conceals, hides, or otherwise prevents the discovery of the contents of the container, space, or enclosure.”
State v. Jones, 2022-Ohio-561, 185 N.E.3d 131. “03(A)(2); and (3) operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment, in violation of R.C. 2923.241(C). Each drug offense also included a major drug offender specification.”
State v. Guice, 2024-Ohio-1914, 244 N.E.3d 600. · cites it 3× “Analysis – Designing a Vehicle with a Hidden Compartment {¶81} We previously identified the elements of R.C. 2923.241 in our analysis of Guice’s third assignment of error.”
State v. Newman, 2021-Ohio-197. · cites it 2× “05 (A)(3) & (C)(1), a first- degree felony; operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance in violation of R.C. 2923.241 (C) & (F), a second-degree felony; a forfeiture specification pursuant to R.”
State v. Zuniga, 2021-Ohio-196. · cites it 2× “05 (A)(3) & (C)(1), a first- degree felony; operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance in violation of R.C. 2923.241 (C) & (F), a second-degree felony; identity fraud, a violation of R.”
State v. Thompson, 2026-Ohio-398. · cites it 36× “21; and designing or operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment, a second-degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2923.241. {¶4} After viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the possession…”
State v. Mitchem, 2018-Ohio-4589. · cites it 2× “17CA10 6 indictment, which is Operating a Vehicle with a Hidden Compartment Used to Transport a Controlled Substance, a violation of Revised Code Section 2923.241(C) of the Revised Code? A.”
State v. Robinson, 2019-Ohio-5370. “Robinson was also convicted of operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment used to transport a controlled substance in violation of R.C. 2923.241(C), which provides, "No person shall knowingly operate, possess, or use a vehicle with a hidden compartment with knowledge that the…”
Moscoso v. Warden Se. Corr. Inst., No. 2:19-cv-00223 (S.D. Ohio Aug. 20, 2019). · cites it 4× “(2) “Hidden compartment” means a container, space, or enclosure that conceals, hides, or otherwise prevents the discovery of the contents of the container, space, or enclosure.”
State v. Gurley, 2019-Ohio-3824. · cites it 4× “” R.C. 2923.241(A)(2). “A person acts knowingly, regardless of his purpose, when he is aware that his conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain nature.”
Show all 19 citing cases →
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.241(A)(1)(c): 2 cases
State v. Gomez, 2019-Ohio-481, 130 N.E.3d 1065. “{¶57} In his Fifth Assignment of Error, Gomez argues that R.C. 2923.241 is unconstitutional per se and as applied to his case.”
State v. Thompson, 2026-Ohio-398. “21; and designing or operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment, a second-degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2923.241. {¶4} After viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the possession…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.241(A)(2): 4 cases
State v. Double, 2021-Ohio-632, 168 N.E.3d 899. “Double’s vehicle contained a hidden compartment for purposes 6 of Section 2923.241. The trial court primarily relied upon State v.”
State v. Gomez, 2019-Ohio-481, 130 N.E.3d 1065. “{¶57} In his Fifth Assignment of Error, Gomez argues that R.C. 2923.241 is unconstitutional per se and as applied to his case.”
State v. Thompson, 2026-Ohio-398. “21; and designing or operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment, a second-degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2923.241. {¶4} After viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the possession…”
State v. Gurley, 2019-Ohio-3824. “” R.C. 2923.241(A)(2). “A person acts knowingly, regardless of his purpose, when he is aware that his conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain nature.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.241(A)(2)(a): 3 cases
State v. Gomez, 2019-Ohio-481, 130 N.E.3d 1065. “{¶57} In his Fifth Assignment of Error, Gomez argues that R.C. 2923.241 is unconstitutional per se and as applied to his case.”
State v. Double, 2021-Ohio-632, 168 N.E.3d 899. “Double’s vehicle contained a hidden compartment for purposes 6 of Section 2923.241. The trial court primarily relied upon State v.”
State v. Thompson, 2026-Ohio-398. “21; and designing or operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment, a second-degree felony, in violation of R.C. 2923.241. {¶4} After viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the possession…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.241(A)(2)(b): 1 case
State v. Gomez, 2019-Ohio-481, 130 N.E.3d 1065. “{¶57} In his Fifth Assignment of Error, Gomez argues that R.C. 2923.241 is unconstitutional per se and as applied to his case.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.241(A)(2)(c): 1 case
State v. Gomez, 2019-Ohio-481, 130 N.E.3d 1065. “{¶57} In his Fifth Assignment of Error, Gomez argues that R.C. 2923.241 is unconstitutional per se and as applied to his case.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.241(C): 16 cases
State v. Gomez, 2019-Ohio-481, 130 N.E.3d 1065. “{¶57} In his Fifth Assignment of Error, Gomez argues that R.C. 2923.241 is unconstitutional per se and as applied to his case.”
State v. Double, 2021-Ohio-632, 168 N.E.3d 899. “Double’s vehicle contained a hidden compartment for purposes 6 of Section 2923.241. The trial court primarily relied upon State v.”
State v. Moscoso, 2018-Ohio-2877. “01 of the Revised Code. (2) “Hidden compartment” means a container, space, or enclosure that conceals, hides, or otherwise prevents the discovery of the contents of the container, space, or enclosure.”
State v. Jones, 2022-Ohio-561, 185 N.E.3d 131. “03(A)(2); and (3) operating a vehicle with a hidden compartment, in violation of R.C. 2923.241(C). Each drug offense also included a major drug offender specification.”
State v. Guice, 2024-Ohio-1914, 244 N.E.3d 600. “Analysis – Designing a Vehicle with a Hidden Compartment {¶81} We previously identified the elements of R.C. 2923.241 in our analysis of Guice’s third assignment of error.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.241(C)(F)(4): 1 case
State v. Double, 2021-Ohio-632, 168 N.E.3d 899. “Double’s vehicle contained a hidden compartment for purposes 6 of Section 2923.241. The trial court primarily relied upon State v.”
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