Article II — UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

For purposes of this article, the term "unclaimed property" shall mean any property found by the police of the city upon the public streets or ways of the city or elsewhere, or any property brought to the police department by others, where the owner of the property is unknown; provided, however, that property held as evidence, dangerous weapons or deadly weapons, narcotics or poison drugs, explosives or any property of any kind whatsoever the possession of which is prohibited by law, as defined in the state Penal Code, shall not constitute unclaimed property.

(Code 1968, § 22-4)

Cross reference— Definitions and rules of construction generally, § 1-2.

All unclaimed property shall be kept by the police department, using ordinary care to keep the property safely and to protect the property from the weather. If an owner appears prior to three months from the date the property came into the possession of the police department and offers reasonable proof of his ownership, the property shall be delivered to such owner.

(Code 1968, § 22-5)

All unclaimed property shall be held by the police department for a period of at least three months, unless restitution has been made as provided in section 22-32 prior to sale or destruction.

(Code 1968, § 22-6)

All unclaimed property held for a period of at least three months may be sold at public auction to the highest bidder or in other manner authorized by law; provided that notice of such sale shall be given by the safety chief administrator, at least five days before the time fixed therefor, by publication at least once in a local newspaper. All unclaimed property not sold at such sale and which has no value shall be carefully destroyed and disposed of under the supervision of the safety chief administrator or his duly authorized agents. All proceeds from the sale of unclaimed property shall be deposited by the safety chief ad- ministrator with the city treasurer, for credit to the general fund.

(Code 1968, § 22-7)

Bicycles and toys which have been unclaimed for a period of at least 60 days may, instead of being sold at public auction, be turned over to the probation officer of the county for use in a bicycle give-away program to be conducted jointly with the police department in the city. If a bicycle give-away is not held one time each calendar year, then the bicycles and toys shall be disposed of as outlined in section 22-34 of this Code. The chief of police shall have the discretion to determine whether or not a bicycle give-away shall be held in any calendar year.

(Ord. No. 1096, § 1, 11-2-93)

Secs. 22-36—22-60. - Reserved.