Section 45-28-231.21 Notice and Sale of Stolen or Abandoned Property.

(a)(1) As often as necessary, the drug enforcement unit may sell at public auction, including an Internet auction, to the highest bidder all abandoned or stolen personal property that have been recovered by the drug enforcement unit and have remained unclaimed by the rightful owner for a period of not less than six months. (2) If the abandoned or stolen property is a firearm, the person holding the auction must hold a federal firearm license issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and all sales involving a firearm shall meet the firearm transfer requirements of federal law. (b) Prior to the auction, the drug enforcement unit shall give notice by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in Etowah County once a week for two successive weeks or by posting notice in a conspicuous place at the Etowah County Courthouse for a period of at least 20 days. The notice shall contain the place, date, and time of each auction and a general description of items of personal property to be sold at the auction. (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), if the abandoned or stolen personal property is of a perishable nature and reasonable attempts to locate and identify the owner of the property are not successful, the property may be sold at once without notice. (d) The drug enforcement unit shall attempt to obtain the best possible price for the property.