People v. Searle

The State Police stopped Harlan Searle, a motorcyclist, for a traffic violation, found that the engine of his motorcycle did not bear a legible manufacturer’s identification number as required by law, and seized the motorcycle. Searle attempted, through the Secretary of State’s office, to have the proper number affixed to the motorcycle, which had been rebuilt out of several used parts, including a used engine, so that he might have it back. The police responded that they were holding it as evidence for a criminal complaint against Searle. Eventually, he was tried and found guilty of the…