People v. One 1959 Porsche Coupe

The instant appeal is by Joel E. Lynn and Joann M. Lynn from a judgment forfeiting their title to a Porsche coupe upon findings and conclusions that it was used to facilitate the possession of marijuana. The ground of the appeal is insufficiency of the evidence to support the findings.

The judgment of forfeiture in this case is without precedent. The facts differ materially from any of which we

There was no evidence that there was marijuana in the ear, or that anyone was seen in the ear or entering or leaving the car with marijuana in his possession.

There was no evidence from which it could reasonably be inferred that Joel E. Lynn, who was using the car, was on his way to obtain marijuana.

We reverse the judgment because of the absence of evidence that the car was used to facilitate the possession of marijuana. Our statement of the evidence will show that at 2 am. Lynn, with a male companion, was on his way to an after-hours jazz spot to drink some beer; without prearrangement he met a friend at a gas station; they drove away and returned in the friend’s car; upon their arrest, soon after, while on their way to the jazz spot, each was holding a marijuana cigarette. These are the simple facts of the case.

It is manifest that there was a link missing in the chain of circumstantial evidence upon which the judgment was founded. There was no evidence, direct or circumstantial, that Lynn came to the service station for the purpose of acquiring a marijuana cigarette. The question is this: A man is found on the street in possession of a marijuana cigarette; he came in a car to the place where he was found in possession of the cigarette; he did not have the cigarette in the car; there was no evidence whether he bought the cigarette or it was given to "him; does evidence of these facts overcome the presumptions that are favorable to him and warrant a finding that he used the car to facilitate possession of the cigarette? We distinguish this case from those situations in which a car is used as a means of transportation to a place where a narcotic could be purchased or is being used.

The forfeiture proceeding, while civil in nature, has penal aspects. Insofar as it is regarded as a civil proceeding the proof that will justify a forfeiture is sufficient if grounds for forfeiture are established by a preponderance of the evidence. (People v. One 1940 Chrysler, 77 Cal.App.2d 306 [ 175 P.2d 585 ]; People v. One 1952 Chevrolet Bel Aire, 128 Cal.App.2d 414 [ 275 P.2d 509 ].) The proceeding in its penal aspects invokes rules of evidence not applicable to ordinary civil actions, by which the evidence must be weighed.

In an action to enforce a penalty or forfeiture every intendment and presumption is against the one who seeks to enforce the penalty or forfeiture. (People v. One 1941 Cadillac Club

Lynn told the officers that he had parked his Porsche at the gas station and that they were going to an after-hours jazz spot and drink some beer. The men were driven to the gas station where the Porsche was opened with Lynn’s key, and searched; no contraband was found “to the visible eye.”

Edgar R Carver, Jr., an attorney, testified that he had been Lynn’s commanding officer, U.S. Army Reserve, from 1956 to 1960; Lynn was his field first sergeant; he had been Lynn’s attorney in a municipal court ease in which Lynn prevailed; he knew Lynn’s reputation as a law abiding citizen; it was excellent.

The defendant’s attorney argued there was no connection between the vehicle and the marijuana and the court said: “Except for one thing, counsel. He drove to the gasoline station in the Porsche. Had he not had the Porsche, he probably wouldn’t have been able to drive to the gasoline station. . . . The automobile, by the testimony, was used to facilitate the illegal use of a narcotic. This is what the public policy is aimed at. . . . The evidence is clear in the Court’s mind that Mr. Lynn did drive the automobile to the gasoline station. He left the station, walked down the street, was in possession of the marijuana cigarette and discarded it. This was seen by the officer and the Court declares the 1959 Porsche forfeited to the State of California.” This was a statement of the evi

The Attorney General argues “Accordingly, it was not unreasonable for the court to infer that a meeting at the gas station was arranged, that either as a result of the meeting or because of the meeting, appellant possessed marijuana; and that Lynn had intended to use the Porsche automobile to make this meeting and the possession possible. See People v. One 1952 Mercury 2-door Sedan, 176 Cal.App.2d 220 , 225 [ 1 Cal.Rptr. 245 ].”

In the Mercury case Nunez had driven to a place where heroin was obtainable, and since he obtained it, and was leaving with it to return to his car when he was arrested, it was a reasonable conclusion that he had driven to the place in order to obtain the narcotic, and it would follow that the car was used to facilitate the accomplishment of his purpose. We would not question the soundness of the opinion, but we reject the effort of the Attorney General to bring the facts of the present case within it. There is no similarity between the facts of that ease and the facts of our case. There was no evidence that Lynn drove to the service station to obtain marijuana or that he knew marijuana cigarettes were available there. There was no evidence that Rurup had marijuana or that Lynn had arranged to meet him at the station. Lynn’s salutation “A long time I don’t see you. Where you been?’’ clearly indicated there had been no recent communication between them. They drove away in Rurup’s Nash, evidently to get the cigarettes, but was it a reasonable inference that Lynn planned to meet Rurup in order to be driven by Rurup to a place where marijuana cigarettes could be obtained? We think not. Having obtained the cigarettes and returned to the station the three then started for an after-hours place to drink beer, which would appear to have been their reason for being abroad at 2 o ’clock in the morning.

No doubt it is a common occurrence for one who desires to purchase a narcotic to drive directly to the place where it is obtainable. If that is the purpose of the trip he is brought under the rule stated in People v. One 1952 Mercury 2-Door Sedan, supra, 176 Cal.App.2d 220 . It is reasonable to infer from the fact of the purchase that the purpose in going to a source of supply was to obtain the narcotic. No other evidence of this purpose is necessary. This, of course, is not our case.

It is the purpose for which a ear is used, not the mere use of it, which determines whether it was used unlawfully. The

The reasoning of the trial court fails to recognize the absence of evidence that Lynn was driving to the service station in order to obtain the cigarettes. The court merely suspected that he had that intention. The fact that the three men drove from the station and returned in Rurup’s ear was overlooked in the trial. It was not mentioned by the court or by the Attorney General during the trial, and is not mentioned in the brief of the Attorney General on the appeal. It was a significant fact for the reason that it was the first and only incident which indicated an intention upon Lynn’s part to obtain a marijuana cigarette. The court assumed, and the Attorney General argues, that Lynn headed for the service station under an arrangement to meet Rurup and to go some place, known to Rurup, and in Rurup’s car, where marijuana cigarettes could be purchased.

Under applicable principles Lynn was entitled to the benefit of the following presumptions: he did not act with an intent to violate the law, and this would lead to factual presumptions that he had not arranged to meet Rurup at the gas station, he did not go to the gas station to obtain marijuana cigarettes and his intention to obtain cigarettes originated after he had met Rurup. There was no evidence to overcome these presumptions.

The trial court gave improper meaning to the word "facilitate.” As used in the statute it means to forward the accomplishment of a purpose. As applied by the court it means only to "aid,” which does not imply guilty knowledge or a wrongful purpose. "Facilitate” should be given a mean

In these times almost everyone goes from one neighborhood to another by automobile. We hold that when a man is found walking down the street with a marijuana cigarette in his possession the single fact that he came to the vicinity by car furnishes insufficient legal ground for forfeiture of the car. We do not doubt that affirmance of the judgment would open the door to the forfeiture of automobiles without evidence that they had been used in an unlawful activity.

The judgment is reversed.

Ford, P. J., and Cobey, J., concurred.