§2608.1. Sale of property pending forfeiture; circumstances; procedure

A. The district attorney may petition the court for a sale pending forfeiture of any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or other property which is subject to forfeiture under the provisions of R.S. 40:2604 and if the hearing has not been held within sixty days of filing a claim as authorized by R.S. 40:2612 or one hundred eighty days of the seizure under either of the following conditions:

(1) That it appears to the district attorney that any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or other property seized under the laws of this state is liable to perish or to greatly depreciate in value during the storage of that property.

(2) That the costs associated with storage of the property is disproportionate to the value of that property.

B. After notice to interest holders and claimants and a contradictory hearing, if the court rules favorably, the court may order an immediate sale of such vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or other property and the proceeds thereof to be deposited in accordance with R.S. 40:2616(B) until a final judicial disposition is reached. Prior to such sale, the property seized shall be published in the official journal of the governing authority of the parish where the property is located and, if ordered by the seizing agency, in a newspaper which meets the requirements of R.S. 43:140(3) for qualification as an official journal and which has a larger or smaller circulation in the parish than the official journal. Pursuant to court order, the proceeds shall be held subject to claims of parties in interest to the same extent that the vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or other property so sold would have been subject to such claim.

(1) For purposes of this Section, one hundred percent of the proceeds of the sale, minus any documented auction fees, will be remitted to the seizing agency or district attorney depending on which is designated to carry out the order of the court; the funds shall be deposited in accordance with R.S. 40:2616(B).

(2) For purposes of this Section, Internet computer auctions are considered public sales, and the seizing agency or district attorney is expressly authorized to sell the property described in this Paragraph through the use of electronic technology, including Internet web sites that facilitate such sales. The seizing agency or district attorney is further authorized to pay any costs associated with the sale from the proceeds of such sale. The seizing agency or district attorney is further empowered to sell the property through any form of electronic technology, including Internet web sites created expressly for that purpose, whether privately or publicly owned.

(3) For purposes of this Section, the use of reserves or minimum bids is required to ensure that a minimum of the greater of fifty percent of the fair market value or one hundred percent of the principal for any interest holder is obtained.

C. If the final judicial disposition is in favor of the claimant, neither the seizing agency nor the district attorney shall be liable for any differences in the amount received at auction and the retail sale price for any vessel, vehicle, aircraft, merchandise, or other property sold pursuant to this Section.

Acts 2007, No. 71, §1.