233.9—Expedited release of conveyances being forfeited in a judicial forfeiture proceeding for a drug-related offense.
(a) Petition for expedited release of conveyance.
Where a conveyance has been seized and is being forfeited in a judicial proceeding for a drug-related offense, the owner may petition the United States Attorney for an expedited release of the conveyance in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Justice ( 21 CFR part 1316 ).
(b) Petition filed in timely manner.
A petition for expedited release must be filed in a timely manner in order to be considered by the United States Attorney. To be considered as filed in a timely manner, in accordance with 21 CFR part 1316, the petition must be received by the appropriate United States Attorney within 20 days from the date of the first publication of the notice of the action and arrest of the property, or within 30 days after filing of the claim, whichever occurs later.
(c) Obtaining release of the property by filing a substitute res bond.
Where a conveyance is being forfeited in a judicial proceeding for a drug-related offense, the owner may obtain release of the property by filing a substitute res bond with the Postal Inspection Service. The conveyance will be released to the owner upon the payment of a bond in the amount of the appraised value of the conveyance if it is not evidence of a violation of law or has design or other characteristics that particularly suit it for use in illegal activities. This bond must be in the form of a traveler's check, a money order, a cashier's check or an irrevocable letter of credit made payable to the United States Postal Service. A bond in the form of a cashier's check will be considered as paid once the check has been accepted for payment by the financial institution which issued the check.
(d) Forfeiture of the bond.
If a substitute res bond is filed and the conveyance is judicially forfeited, the court will forfeit the bond in lieu of the property.