12-941

12-941. Disposal of certain unclaimed property
in custody of state, county, city or town officer; disposal of
found property; disposal of items to charities and museums; sale of
coins

A. All money or property used as evidence and remaining unclaimed in the hands of a
state, county, city or town officer, after final disposition of the cause in which so
used, or seized by a peace officer as being used unlawfully or for an unlawful purpose
and held unclaimed from the date of seizure, or coming into the hands of any state,
county, city or town officer as unclaimed or contraband, shall, if no other disposal is
prescribed by law, be delivered to the clerk of the superior court if held by a state or
county officer, or to the clerk of a city court if held by a city officer, or to the
justice of the peace if held by a town officer. Those items that have a useful value to a
law enforcement agency may be retained and utilized by that law enforcement agency.

B. Tangible personal property turned over to a state, county, city or town officer
as lost may be returned to the person who found and turned it over if all of the
following conditions apply:

1. The property is not contraband.

2. No other disposition of the property is specifically provided by law.

3. The property remains unclaimed for ninety days after reasonable efforts have
been made to locate and notify the owner.

4. The person who found and turned over the property is not a public officer or
employee of the federal, a state or local government who found the property in the course
of performing the duties of the office of employment.

C. If money is delivered to the proper officer by virtue of the provisions of
subsection A, it shall be deposited in the general fund of the state, county, city or
town, as the case may be.

D. Items valued at twenty-five dollars or less or items which have been rejected by
the clerk of the court may be given to an appropriate charity.

E. Items that have military or historical value may be given to an appropriate
museum.

F. Coins that have a value lesser or greater than face value may be sold to a
dealer or for fair market value, whichever is greater.

G. A record of all transactions will be maintained for at least twenty-four months.