2005 Idaho Code - 55-405 — FOUND PERSONAL PROPERTY

                                  TITLE  55
                             PROPERTY IN GENERAL
                                  CHAPTER 4
                              PERSONAL PROPERTY
    55-405.  FOUND PERSONAL PROPERTY. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, any person who finds money or goods valued at one hundred dollars
($100) or more, excepting firearms, explosives or other deadly weapons as
identified in chapter 33, title 18, Idaho Code, shall, if the owner of the
money or goods is unknown, give written notice of the finding within ten (10)
days to the county clerk of the county in which the money or goods were found.
Within twenty (20) days after the date of the finding, the person who finds
such money or goods shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county a notice of the finding once each week for two (2)
consecutive weeks. Each such notice shall state:
    (a)  A general description of the money or goods found;
    (b)  The address and telephone number of the county clerk's office; and
    (c)  The final date by which such money or goods must be claimed.
    (2)  If no person establishes ownership of the money or goods prior to the
expiration of three (3) months from the date of the notice to the county
clerk, as provided in subsection (1) of this section, the person who found
such money or goods shall be the rightful owner thereof.
    (3)  (a) If any person who finds money or goods valued at one hundred
    dollars ($100) or more, excepting firearms, explosives or other deadly
    weapons as identified in chapter 33, title 18, Idaho Code, fails to comply
    with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, such person shall
    be liable to the county for the money or goods or for the value of such
    money or goods.
    (b)  Upon forfeiture of the money or goods, or the value of such money or
    goods, as provided in this subsection, the county treasurer shall hold the
    money or goods or their value for the owner and shall publish in a
    newspaper of general circulation in the county a notice of the finding
    once each week for two (2) consecutive weeks. Each such notice shall
    state:
         (i)   A general description of the money or goods found;
         (ii)  The address and telephone number of the county treasurer's
         office; and
         (iii) The final date by which such money or goods must be claimed.
    (c)  If the owner does not reclaim the money or goods within three (3)
    months after the date of first publication of the notice by the county
    treasurer, the owner forfeits any rights to the money or goods or the
    value thereof and:
         (i)   If money, such money shall be placed in the general fund of the
         county for payment of the general operating expenses of the county;
         or
         (ii)  If goods, such goods shall be delivered to the sheriff of the
         county and sold at public auction as provided in section 55-403,
         Idaho Code. The proceeds of the sale of such goods shall be applied
         first to the costs of the sale and the remainder shall be placed in
         the general fund of the county for the payment of the general
         operating expenses of the county.
    (4)  An owner of money or goods found by another person who establishes a
claim to such money or goods within the time period specified in this section
shall have restitution of such money or goods, or their value, upon payment to
the finder or the county treasurer, as applicable, of all costs and charges
incurred in the finding, giving of notice, and care and custody of such money
or goods.
    (5)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the provisions
of chapter 5, title 14, Idaho Code.