Sec. 393.003. CONFISCATION, NOTICE, AND PUBLIC AUCTION. (a) A sheriff, constable, or other trained volunteer authorized by the commissioners court of a county may confiscate a sign placed in violation of Section 393.002.

(b) If the owner of a confiscated sign is known, the sheriff or constable shall notify the owner of the confiscation by certified mail, return receipt requested, not later than the 10th day after the date of the confiscation. If the owner of the sign is not known, the sheriff or constable shall publish notice of the confiscation in a newspaper of general circulation in the county not later than the 10th day after the date of the confiscation.

(c) A notice under Subsection (b) must:

(1) include a description of the sign and the location from which the sign was confiscated;

(2) include a statement that the owner may reclaim the sign before the 21st day after the date the notice was mailed or published if all fines that are imposed under this chapter are paid; and

(3) state the date, time, and location of the public auction where the sign will be sold if the sign is not reclaimed.

(d) A notice by publication under Subsection (b) may contain multiple listings of confiscated signs.

(e) The sheriff or constable may sell a sign at public auction if, before the 21st day after the date notice under Subsection (b) was mailed or published, the sign has not been reclaimed. The sheriff or constable shall sell the sign to the highest bidder at the auction.

(f) The sheriff or constable shall remit the proceeds of an auction under Subsection (e) to the county treasurer for deposit to the credit of a fund in the county treasury designated by the commissioners court.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 612 (H.B. 413), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2007.