CALCRIM No. 2441. Use of False Compartment to Conceal Controlled Substance (Health & Saf.
Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instructions (2025 edition)
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2441.Use of False Compartment to Conceal Controlled
Substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11366.8)
The defendant is charged [in Count ] with ((possessing/using/
controlling)/ [or] (designing/constructing/building/altering/fabricating/
installing/attaching)) a false compartment with the intent to (store/
conceal/smuggle/transport) a controlled substance in a vehicle [in
violation of Health and Safety Code section 11366.8].
To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must
prove that:
<A. Possessed, Used, Controlled>
1. [The defendant (possessed/used/controlled) a false compartment
with the intent to (store/conceal/smuggle/transport) a controlled
substance in the false compartment in a vehicle(;/.)]
[OR
<B. Designed, Built, etc.>
2. ][The defendant (designed/constructed/built/altered/fabricated/
installed/attached) a false compartment (for/in/to) a vehicle with
the intent to (store/conceal/smuggle/transport) a controlled
substance in it.]
Afalse compartment is any box, container, space, or enclosure that is
added or attached to the original factory equipment of a vehicle and
intended or designed to (conceal[,]/hide[,]/ [or] [otherwise] prevent
discovery of) any controlled substance. A false compartment may be ((a/
an) (false/modified/altered) fuel tank[,]/original factory equipment of a
vehicle that is (modified/altered/changed)[,]/ [or] a compartment, space,
or box that is added to, or made or created from, existing compartments,
spaces, or boxes within a vehicle).
Avehicle includes any car, truck, bus, aircraft, boat, ship, yacht, or
vessel.
[Two or more people may possess something at the same time.]
[A person does not have to actually hold or touch something to possess
it. It is enough if the person has (control over it/ [or] the right to control
it), either personally or through another person.]
New January 2006; Revised February 2025
1565
BENCH NOTES
Instructional Duty
The court has a sua sponte duty to give this instruction defining the elements of the
crime. Give either optional paragraph A, B, or both, depending on the charged crime
and the evidence proffered at trial.
AUTHORITY
• Elements. Health & Saf. Code, § 11366.8.
• False Compartment Requires Modification of the Original Factory Equipment.
People v. Arias (2008) 45 Cal.4th 169, 182 [85 Cal.Rptr.3d 1, 195 P.3d 103].
• Constructive vs. Actual Possession. People v. Barnes (1997) 57 Cal.App.4th 552,
556 [67 Cal.Rptr.2d 162].
SECONDARY SOURCES
2 Witkin & Epstein, California Criminal Law (4th ed. 2012) Crimes Against Public
Peace and Welfare, § 156.
6 Millman, Sevilla & Tarlow, California Criminal Defense Practice, Ch. 145,
Narcotics and Alcohol Offenses, § 145.01[1][o] (Matthew Bender).
2442-2499. Reserved for Future Use
CALCRIM No. 2441 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
1566
© Judicial Council of California.
