Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

Does placing steel bars on the outside of a drug house to keep police out qualify as a fortified drug house?

1. False

2. True

3. Only if done secretly

4. Only if the house is a known drug house

The correct answer is: True

Placing steel bars on the outside of a drug house to prevent police entry does indeed qualify as a fortified drug house. This classification arises from the intent behind the fortification, which is to obstruct law enforcement and enhance the security of criminal activities conducted within. The presence of physical barriers, such as steel bars, indicates a deliberate effort to protect the illegal operations from external intervention, which is characteristic of fortified structures used in drug trafficking. In the context of criminal justice, a fortified drug house is defined not only by its exterior alterations but also by the purpose these alterations serve. The use of barriers like steel bars typically signifies a heightened level of security that goes beyond standard residential protections, aligning with the definitions set forth in legal and law enforcement contexts. Hence, the answer being true reflects the criminal implications of such fortifications.