Section 633:9 Administrative Forfeiture of Items Used in Connection With Trafficking in Persons.
I. Interests in property subject to forfeiture under the provisions of RSA 633:8, I(a), I(b), I(c) excepting proceeds, and I(d), but not real property, shall be subject to administrative forfeiture by the department of justice provided that the total amount or value of such property does not exceed $75,000. The provisions of RSA 633:8 shall apply in any case of administrative forfeiture except as otherwise provided in this section.
II. The department of justice may administratively forfeit property seized under paragraph I of this section as follows:
(a) The department of justice shall provide a notice of intent to forfeit property administratively by publication for 3 consecutive weeks in a local newspaper of general circulation where the property was seized.
(b) In addition, to the extent practicable, the department of justice shall provide notice by certified mail return receipt addressee only requested, of intent to forfeit the property administratively to all persons having a recorded interest or claiming an equitable interest in the property seized.
(c) Notice by publication and by mail shall include:
(1) A description of the property;
(2) Its appraised value;
(3) The date and place of seizure;
(4) The violation of law alleged against the subject property;
(5) Instructions for filing a claim and posting bond or filing a petition for remission or mitigation; and
(6) Notice that the property will be forfeited to the state if a petition for remission or mitigation has not been filed in a timely manner or a claim has not been filed and bond has not been posted in a timely manner.
(d) Persons claiming an interest in the property may file petitions for remission or mitigation of forfeiture or file a claim and post bond with the department of justice within 30 days of the first notice by publication or 30 days from the receipt of written notice, whichever is later.
(e) It shall be the duty of the department of justice to inquire into the facts and circumstances surrounding petitions for remission or mitigation of forfeiture.
(f) The department of justice shall provide the seizing agency and the petitioner a written decision on each petition for remission or mitigation within 60 days of receipt of such petition unless the circumstances of the case require additional time in which case the department of justice shall notify the petitioner in writing and with specificity within the 60-day period that the circumstances of the case require additional time, and further notify the petitioner of the expected decision date.
(g) Any person claiming an interest in seized property may institute judicial review of the seizure and proposed forfeiture by timely filing with the department of justice a claim and bond to the state in the amount of 10 percent of the appraised value or in the penal sum of $2,500, whichever is less, with sureties to be approved by the department of justice, upon condition that in the case of forfeiture the claimant shall pay all costs and expenses of the proceedings at the discretion of the court. A sworn affidavit of indigency may be filed in lieu of a cost bond. Upon receipt of the claim and bond, or, if department of justice otherwise so elects, the department shall file with the court a petition in rem to order forfeiture of items or property interests subject to forfeiture under the provisions of this section. All judicial proceedings thereafter shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of RSA 633:8. Any bonds received by the department of justice shall be held by it pending final disposition of the case.
(h) If no petitions or claims with bonds are timely filed, the department of justice shall prepare a written declaration of forfeiture of the subject property to the state and dispose of the property in accordance with this section and the department of justice rules, if any, relative to this section.
(i) If the petition is denied, the department of justice shall prepare a written declaration of forfeiture to the state and dispose of the property in accordance with this section and the department of justice rules, if any, relative to this section.
(j) A written declaration of forfeiture signed by the attorney general or designee pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed good and sufficient title to the forfeited property.
Source. 2009, 211:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010.