(a) There shall be an office of the Metropolitan Police District known as the Office of the Property Clerk. The Property Clerk shall be a member of the Metropolitan Police force. The staff shall consist of civilians who are not members of the Metropolitan Police force, except that police officers may provide security for lost, stolen, or abandoned property held by the office.
(b) For purposes of §§ 5-119.02 through 5-119.10 and §§ 5-119.12 through 5-119.18:
(1) The term “lost property” means any personal property, tangible or intangible, except a motor vehicle, the owner of which is unknown and which has been casually or involuntarily parted with through negligence, carelessness, or inadvertence.
(2) The term “finder of lost property” means any person other than a public officer of the Metropolitan Police Department who has found lost property.
CREDIT(S)
(R.S., D.C., § 408; Dec. 5, 1919, 41 Stat. 363, ch. 1, § 1; Mar. 5, 1981, D.C. Law 3-160, § 201, 27 DCR 5150; Sept. 9, 1989, D.C. Law 8-24, § 6(a), 36 DCR 4575; May 4, 1990, D.C. Law 8-118, § 2, 37 DCR 1736.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 4-152.
1973 Ed., § 4-151.
Legislative History of Laws
Law 3-160, the “Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act of 1980,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 3-267, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on October 14, 1980 and October 28, 1980, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on November 10, 1980, it was assigned Act No. 3-287 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 8-24, the “District of Columbia Abandoned and Junk Vehicle Removal Amendment Act of 1989,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-10, which was referred to the Committee on Public Works. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on May 16, 1989 and May 30, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 14, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-46 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 8-118, the “Abandoned Property Amendment Act of 1990,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-419, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on January 30, 1990, and February 13, 1990, respectively. Approved without the signature of the Mayor on March 6, 1990, it was assigned Act No. 8-172 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Delegation of Authority
Delegation of authority under D.C. Law 8-24, the “D.C. Abandoned and Junk Vehicle Removal Amend. Act of 1989”, see Mayor's Order 90-11, January 23, 1990.