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2010 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 15.2-1719 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 15.2-1719. Disposal of unclaimed property in possession of sheriff or police.
Any locality may provide by ordinance for (i) the public sale
in accordance with the provisions of this section or (ii) the retention for use
by the law-enforcement agency, of any unclaimed personal property which
has been in the possession of its law-enforcement agencies and unclaimed for a
period of more than sixty 60 days, after payment of a
reasonable storage fee to the sheriff or other agency storing such property.
No storage fee shall be charged or accounted for if such property has been
stored by and is to be retained by the sheriff's office or other law-enforcement
agency. As used herein, "unclaimed personal property" shall be
any personal property belonging to another which has been acquired by a
law-enforcement officer pursuant to his duties, which is not needed in any
criminal prosecution, which has not been claimed by its rightful owner and
which the State Treasurer has indicated will be declined if remitted under the
Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (§ 55-210.1 et seq.). Unclaimed
bicycles and mopeds may also be disposed of in accordance with § 15.2-1720.
Unclaimed firearms may also be disposed of in accordance with § 15.2-1721.
Prior to the sale or retention for use by the law-enforcement agency of any unclaimed item, the chief of police, sheriff or their duly authorized agents shall make reasonable attempts to notify the rightful owner of the property, obtain from the attorney for the Commonwealth in writing a statement advising that the item is not needed in any criminal prosecution, and cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality once a week for two successive weeks, notice that there will be a public display and sale of unclaimed personal property. Such property, including property selected for retention by the law-enforcement agency, shall be described generally in the notice, together with the date, time and place of the sale and shall be made available for public viewing at the sale. The chief of police, sheriff or their duly authorized agents shall pay from the proceeds of sale the costs of advertisement, removal, storage, investigation as to ownership and liens, and notice of sale. The balance of the funds shall be held by such officer for the owner and paid to the owner upon satisfactory proof of ownership. Any unclaimed item retained for use by the law-enforcement agency shall become the property of the locality served by the agency and shall be retained only if, in the opinion of the chief law-enforcement officer, there is a legitimate use for the property by the agency and that retention of the item is a more economical alternative than purchase of a similar or equivalent item.
If no claim has been made by the owner for the property or
proceeds of such sale within sixty 60 days of the sale, the
remaining funds shall be deposited in the general fund of the locality and the
retained property may be placed into use by the law-enforcement agency. Any
such owner shall be entitled to apply to the locality within three years from
the date of the sale and, if timely application is made therefor and
satisfactory proof of ownership of the funds or property is made, the locality
shall pay the remaining proceeds of the sale or return the property to the
owner without interest or other charges or compensation. No claim shall be made
nor any suit, action or proceeding be instituted for the recovery of such funds
or property after three years from the date of the sale.