City of Margate v. Singh

This is an appeal from an order dismissing a forfeiture action for failure to establish probable cause. We affirm. A Margate police officer observed a customized 1987 Mazda pickup truck, which lacked a vehicle identification number (VIN) on the dash board, in the parking lot of an automobile repair shop. Two holes were visible where the VIN had previously been attached. The vehicle did not have a license plate either, and after observing a person exit the repair shop and start to drive the vehicle, the officer stopped it. The owner of the repair shop then came out and identified the vehicle as his. He produced the tag and a certificate of title.