Fairfax Municipal Code Ch. 3.28 Unclaimed Property

When the Police Department of the town has in its possession any personal property, the ownership of which is unknown, the Department shall retain the property in its possession for a minimum period of three months from the date on which it came into possession of the Department, during which time the members of the Department shall make reasonable effort to ascertain the identity of the owner thereof, and, should the identity and address of the owner be ascertained, shall give notice to the owner by registered mail of the fact that the property is in the possession of the Department, and that the owner, upon satisfactorily identifying himself or herself and his or her ownership, will be entitled to receive the property. If, during the three-month period, the Department is unable to ascertain the name and address of the owner of the property, and no person or persons make claims thereto and prove their ownership, then the Chief of Police shall cause the property to be sold, at public auction, to the highest bidder, for cash, after having first given notice of the time and place of the sale, for a minimum period of ten days before the time fixed therefor, by publication in a newspaper of general circulation printed in the county and distributed in the town. The notice shall generally describe each specific item of property to be so sold. The cost of the publication shall be a proper charge against the town and the proceeds from the sale shall be deposited by the Chief of Police with the Town Treasurer as a miscellaneous receipt.

(Prior Code, § 3.28.010) (Ord. 575, passed - -1988)