If you are saying that it was in plain view, I agree. Otherwise, an officer does not have the latitude to search, pat frisk or even ID. Many cases are lost because an officer could not articulate a reason to interact with the passenger.
construct or manufacture (something, especially an industrial product), especially from prepared components:
"you will have to fabricate an exhaust system"
synonyms: make · create · manufacture · produce · construct · build · assemble · put together · form · fashion