262.12—Impounding of personal property.
(a)
Automobiles or other vehicles, trailers, boats, and camping equipment and other inanimate personal property on National Forest System lands without the authorization of a Forest officer which are not removed therefrom within the prescribed period after a warning notice as provided in this regulation may be impounded by a Forest officer. Whenever such Forest officer knows the name and address of the owner, such impoundment may be effected at any time five days after the date that written notice of the trespass is mailed by registered mail or delivered to such owner.
(b)
In the event the local Forest officer does not know the name and address of the owner, impoundment may be effected at any time 15 days after the date a notice of intention to impound the property in trespass is first published in a local newspaper and posted at the county courthouse and in one or more local post offices. A copy of this notice shall also be posted in at least one place on the property or in proximity thereto.
(c)
Personal property impounded under this regulation may be disposed of at the expiration of 90-days after the date of impoundment. The owner may redeem the personal property within the 90-day period by submitting proof of ownership and paying all expenses incurred by the United States in advertising, gathering, moving, impounding, storing, and otherwise caring for the property, and also for the value of the use of the site occupied during the period of the trespass.
(d)
If the personal property is not redeemed on or before the date fixed for its disposition, it shall be sold by the Forest Service at public sale to the highest bidder. If no bid is received, the property, or portions thereof, may, in the discretion of the responsible Forest officer, be sold at private sale or be condemned and destroyed or otherwise disposed of. When personal property is sold pursuant to this regulation, the Forest officer making the sale shall furnish the purchaser a bill of sale or other written instrument evidencing the sale.
(e)
The provisions of this section shall not apply to the impoundment or disposal of beached logs in Alaska if deemed abandoned under State law.