§ 4510 — Rights of innocent owner

Nothing contained in sections 4503-4509 of this title shall prejudice the rights of the bona fide owner of any such device upon affirmative proof by him or her that he or she had no express or implied knowledge that such forfeited property was being or intended to be used for the illegal purposes aforesaid and the owner shall be entitled to a return of the same if he or she appears before adjudication of forfeiture and establishes his or her right to such return in accord with the foregoing. If, upon hearing, the person in charge of such firearm, jack, light, vehicle, or device does not appear to be the owner thereof and no person shall claim the same, further hearing shall be continued to a date certain. The taking of such articles and the date, place, and purpose of adjourned hearing shall be advertised once a week for three consecutive weeks in some newspaper published in the town or county where such device was taken, and, if there is no newspaper published in such town or county where such property was taken, in a newspaper having circulation in such county once a week for three successive weeks. The court before whom such proceeding is held shall be allowed the necessary expense of such advertising by the Commissioner of Finance and Management and order entered by such court at such adjourned hearing. (Added 1961, No. 119, § 1, eff. May 9, 1961; amended 1983, No. 195 (Adj. Sess.), § 5(b).)