Mono County Municipal Code Ch. 2.56 Unclaimed Property

Authority for the ordinance codified in this chapter is Section 2080.4 of the Civil Code, laws of the state, wherein the board of supervisors of the county may provide for the care, restitution, sale or destruction of unclaimed property in the possession of the Mono County sheriff.

(Ord. 73-434 § 9 (part), 1973; Ord. 377 § 3, 1967.)

Pursuant to requirement of said Section 2080.4, and pursuant to the requirements of this chapter, all such unclaimed property shall be held by the sheriff for a period of at least six months, with exception of unclaimed bicycles, which may be held for a period of at least three months.

(Ord. 73-434 § 9 (part), 1973; Ord. 377 § 2, 1967.)

This chapter shall not be interpreted to preclude the effects or intent of Welfare and Institutions Code Section 516, laws of the state.

(Ord. 377 § 3, 1967.)

Unclaimed property is that property, excluding firearms or other dangerous weapons, which comes into the possession of the Mono County sheriff's office and for which a reasonable effort has been made to ascertain and notify the owner of such possession. Notification to the owner shall be by registered mail if the owner and his address are known to the department.

(Ord. 377 § 4, 1967.)

All such unclaimed property which has been in the possession of the Mono County sheriff for a period exceeding six months from the date of possession shall once annually be inventoried, and following inventory notice of the sale of such property shall be duly published in the Bridgeport Chronicle-Union once at least five days before the time fixed for the sale. All sales shall be at the office of the sheriff, or his substation, or both, whichever is more convenient to the operation of the department. The sale shall be conducted as any public auction, to the highest bidder for cash or certified check, payable immediately upon awarding the bid. All other rules for public auction shall apply.

(Ord. 377 § 5, 1967.)

The proceeds from the sale provided for by Section 2.56.050 are by law in this chapter considered to be general revenues of the county, and shall be deposited with the treasurer after due account therefor.

(Ord. 377 § 6, 1967.)

Notwithstanding Section 2.56.050, all such property, which, in the opinion of the sheriff, is worthless, or which if sold would not bring a sum sufficient to offset the cost of conducting the sale, may be destroyed as provided herein.

The sheriff shall file an inventory of such property with the chief administrative officer and shall destroy such property in a manner suitable to the sheriff. No property subject to this section shall be delivered to any person for that person's or any other person's use or benefit without prior written consent from the chief administrative officer.

(Ord. 75-377-A § 1, 1975.)