2007 Minnesota Statutes

97A.225 SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND BOATS.
    Subdivision 1. Seizure. (a) An enforcement officer must seize all motor vehicles used to:
(1) shine wild animals in violation of section 97B.081, subdivision 1;
(2) transport big game animals illegally taken or fur-bearing animals illegally purchased; or
(3) transport minnows in violation of section 97C.501, 97C.515, or 97C.525.
(b) An enforcement officer must seize all boats and motors used in netting fish on Lake of
the Woods, Rainy Lake, Lake Superior, Namakan Lake, and Sand Point Lake in violation of
licensing or operating requirements of section 97A.475, subdivision 30, 97C.825, 97C.831, or
97C.835, or a rule of the commissioner relating to these provisions.
(c) An enforcement officer may seize all boats and motors with their trailers that are used to
take, possess, or transport wild animals when the restitution value of the wild animals exceeds
$500.
    Subd. 2. Procedure for confiscation of property seized. The enforcement officer must hold
the seized property, subject to the order of the court having jurisdiction where the offense was
committed. The property held is confiscated when:
(1) the commissioner complies with this section;
(2) the person from whom it was seized is convicted of the offense; and
(3) the conviction is not under appeal and the time period for appeal of the conviction
has expired.
    Subd. 3. Complaint against property. The commissioner shall file with the court a separate
complaint against the property held. The complaint must identify the property, describe its use in
the violation, and specify the time and place of the violation. A copy of the complaint must be
served upon the defendant or the owner of the property.
    Subd. 4. Release of property after posting bond. At any time after seizure of the property
specified in this section, the property must be returned to the owner or person having the legal
right to possession upon execution of a valid bond to the state with a corporate surety. The bond
must be approved by a judge of the court of jurisdiction, conditioned to abide by an order and
judgment of the court and to pay the full value of the property at the time of seizure. The bond
must be for $100 or for a greater amount not more than twice the value of the property seized.
    Subd. 5. Court order. (a) If the person arrested is acquitted, the court shall dismiss the
complaint against the property and:
(1) order it returned to the person legally entitled to it; and
(2) order the commissioner to reimburse the person for any seized or confiscated property
that is sold, lost, or damaged.
(b) Upon conviction of the person, the court shall issue an order directed to any person that
may have any right, title, or interest in, or lien upon, the seized property. The order must describe
the property and state that it was seized and that a complaint against it has been filed. The order
shall require a person claiming right, title, or interest in, or lien upon, the property to file with the
court administrator an answer to the complaint, stating the claim, within ten days after the service
of the order. The order shall contain a notice that if the person fails to file an answer within the
time limit, the property may be ordered sold by the commissioner.
(c) The court order must be served upon any person known or believed to have any right,
title, interest, or lien in the same manner as provided for service of a summons in a civil action,
and upon unknown persons by publication, in the same manner as provided for publication of a
summons in a civil action.
    Subd. 6. Court ordered sale after no answer. If an answer is not filed within the time
provided in subdivision 5, the court administrator shall notify the court and the court shall order
the commissioner to sell the property. The net proceeds of the sale shall be deposited in the state
treasury and credited to the game and fish fund.
    Subd. 7. Hearing after answer. If an answer is filed within the time provided in subdivision
5, the court shall schedule a hearing within ten to 30 days after the time expired for filing the
answer. The court, without a jury, shall determine whether any of the property was used in a
violation specified in the complaint and whether the owner had knowledge or reason to believe
that the property was being used, or intended to be used, in the violation. The court shall order the
commissioner to sell the property that was unlawfully used with knowledge of the owner and to
return to the owner property that was not unlawfully used with the knowledge of the owner. If
the property is to be sold, the court shall determine the priority of liens against the property and
whether the lienholders had knowledge that the property was being used or was intended to be
used. Lienholders that had knowledge of the property's use in the violation are not to be paid.
The court order must state the priority of the liens to be paid.
    Subd. 8. Proceeds of sale. After determining the expense of seizing, keeping, and selling the
property, the commissioner must pay the liens from the proceeds according to the court order. The
remaining proceeds shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the game and fish fund.
    Subd. 9. Cancellation of security interests. A sale under this section cancels all liens
on and security interests in the property sold.
History: 1986 c 386 art 1 s 38; 1Sp1986 c 3 art 1 s 82; 1991 c 259 s 23; 2002 c 270 s
2; 2006 c 281 art 2 s 24,25