Personal property which is not subject to an interest in favor of any person known to have an interest, other than a person who engaged in prohibited conduct, may be forfeited by the forfeiting agency in the manner provided in this section.
(1) As soon as practicable after seizure for forfeiture, the seizing agency shall review the inventory prepared by the officer under ORS 475A.035 (7) and estimate the value of the property seized. The forfeiting agency shall amend the inventory to supply an estimate of value of the property seized if no estimate was made by the officer under ORS 475A.035 (7). The forfeiting agency shall, in addition, amend the inventory to supply a correct listing of the property seized or estimate of the value of that property if either the listing or any estimate of value made by the officer is substantially incorrect. Within 15 days after seizure for forfeiture, the forfeiting agency shall prepare a notice of seizure for forfeiture containing a copy of the inventory prepared pursuant to this section and ORS 475A.035, the identity of the person from whom the property was seized, the name, address and telephone number of the seizing agency and the address and telephone number of the office or other place where further information concerning the seizure and forfeiture may be obtained, and shall make reasonable efforts to serve the notice of seizure for forfeiture on all persons known to have an interest in the seized property. A person may be served as provided in ORCP 7 D except that the notice shall also include information regarding the right to file a claim under subsection (3) of this section, if applicable, and the deadline for filing the claim. If the property is cash in the amount of $1,000 or less, or if the fair market value of the property is $1,000 or less, the forfeiting agency may publish notice of seizure for forfeiture in a newspaper as provided in ORCP 7 D(6)(b) to (d). In all other cases, the forfeiting agency shall publish notice of seizure for forfeiture in a newspaper as provided in ORCP 7 D(6)(b) to (d). A copy of the notice, inventory and estimate of value shall be provided to the forfeiting agency’s forfeiture counsel.
(2)(a) The notice of seizure for forfeiture provided for in this section need not be served on a person who has received the receipt provided for in ORS 475A.035 (7) if:
(A) The receipt contains an estimate of the value of the property seized and the seizing agency has not amended the listing of property or estimate of the value in reviewing the inventory under subsection (1) of this section; and
(B) The receipt contains information regarding the right to file a claim under subsection (3) of this section and the deadline for filing the claim.
(b) Any person who has received the receipt provided for in ORS 475A.035 (7), who must be served with the notice of seizure for forfeiture solely by reason of an amendment to the listing of property or estimate of value under subsection (1) of this section, need only be served by mailing a true copy of the notice of seizure for forfeiture by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(3) Any person claiming an interest in the property shall file a claim with the forfeiting agency’s forfeiture counsel within 21 days after notice of seizure for forfeiture if notice is given in a manner other than by publication. All other persons claiming an interest in the property shall file a claim with the forfeiting agency’s forfeiture counsel within 21 days after the last publication date if notice is published. No extension for the filing of any claim shall be granted. The claim shall be signed by the claimant under penalty of perjury and shall set forth all of the following:
(a) The true name of the claimant;
(b) The address at which the claimant will accept future mailings from the court or forfeiture counsel; and
(c) A statement that the claimant has an interest in the seized property.
(4) If no timely claim is filed, the property shall, upon application and affidavit of the forfeiting agency, be declared forfeited to the forfeiting agency. The affidavit shall set forth proof of service or, if no service was accomplished, facts demonstrating the forfeiting agency’s efforts to accomplish service, together with proof of publication of notice. The application and affidavit shall be filed in the circuit court designated in ORS 475A.075. The judgment declaring the property forfeited shall be as provided in ORS 475A.110.
(5) If a timely claim is filed, a judicial forfeiture proceeding may be commenced as provided in ORS 475A.075.
(6) Notwithstanding ORS 8.720 or any other provision of law, but subject to the provisions of ORS 180.060, a district attorney may act as forfeiture counsel in any civil forfeiture proceeding.
(7) In any civil forfeiture proceeding where there are or may be related criminal proceedings, a prosecuting attorney or forfeiture counsel may participate in settlement negotiations initiated by the defendant or claimant or by the attorney representing the defendant or claimant.
(8) If a forfeiting agency publishes notice of seizure for forfeiture in a newspaper in the manner provided by subsection (1) of this section, the agency may include in a single publication as many notices of forfeiture as the agency considers convenient. The publication may contain a single statement of matters from the notices of forfeiture that are common to all of the notices and which would otherwise result in needless repetition. The publication must contain for each notice of forfeiture a separate copy of the inventory prepared pursuant to this section and ORS 475A.035 and a separate statement of the identity of the person from whose custody the property was seized. The published inventory need not contain estimates of value for the property seized. [1989 c.791 §6; 1991 c.218 §2; 1991 c.799 §1; 1991 c.934 §1; 1993 c.553 §1; 1993 c.699 §10; 2001 c.780 §§7,7a]
(Expedited Hearing)
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