San Rafael Municipal Code Ch. 1.12 Unclaimed Property

When the police department 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 (3) 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 such owner be ascertained, shall give notice to such 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 and his 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 such property, and no person or persons make claims thereto and prove their ownership, the chief of police shall cause such property to be sold at public auction to the highest bidder for cash after having first given notice of the time and place of such sale for a minimum period of ten (10) days before the time fixed therefor by publication in the San Rafael Independent Journal, a newspaper of general circulation published in the county of Marin, state of California. Such notice shall generally describe each specific item of property to be sold. The cost of such publication shall be a proper charge against the city, and the proceeds from the sale shall be deposited by the chief of police with the city treasurer as a miscellaneous receipt.

(Ord. 1706 § 2 (part), 1997; Ord. 1235 § 2, 1976: Ord. 767 § 1, 1963).