(1) If personal property is found on a public transportation system, the director of the system or the director’s designee shall take charge of the property and make a record of the date such property was found. If, within 90 calendar days after such property is found, or for a longer period of time as may be deemed appropriate by the director or the director’s designee under the circumstances, the property is not claimed by the owner, the director or the director’s designee may:

(a) Retain any or all of the property for use by the public transportation system or for use by the state or the unit of local government owning or operating the public transportation system;

(b) Trade or donate such property to another unit of local government or a state agency;

(c) Donate the property to a charitable organization;

(d) Sell the property; or

(e) Dispose of the property through an appropriate refuse removal company or a company that provides salvage services for the type of personal property found or located on the public transportation system.

(2) The public transportation system shall notify the owner, if known, that the property has been found and of its intent to dispose of such property.

(3) If the public transportation system elects to sell the property, it shall be sold at a public auction on the Internet or at a specified physical location. Notice of the time and place of sale must be given at least 10 calendar days before the date of sale in a publication of general circulation within the county where the public transportation system is located and after written notice, via certified mail, return receipt requested, is provided to the owner, if his or her identity and address are known. Such notice is sufficient if it refers to the public transportation system’s intention to sell all then-accumulated found property. There is no requirement that the notice identify each item to be sold. The rightful owner of such property may reclaim the property at any time before sale by presenting acceptable evidence of ownership to the public transportation system director or the director’s designee. All proceeds from the sale of the property shall be retained by the public transportation system for use by the public transportation system in any lawfully authorized manner.

(4) A purchaser or recipient of personal property sold or obtained in good faith under this section shall take possession of the property free of the rights of the persons previously holding any legal or equitable interest therein, whether or not recorded.

History.—s. 10, ch. 2014-169.