Minnesota Statutes Animals and Property (Ch. 343-348) § 345.16. Unclaimed property; disposition; duty of state patrol

Subdivision 1. State Patrol seizure. A State Patrol trooper may seize and retain any personal property abandoned upon any public highway right-of-way, other public premises, or other state-owned property.

Subd. 2. Notice. Notice by the State Patrol of lost or abandoned property in its possession must be made to the rightful owner, if the owner is known, by certified mail. The rightful owner may reclaim the property within 90 days of notice after paying any expenses incurred by the agency for processing and retaining such property.

Subd. 3. Disposal. Unclaimed property may be sold at public sale, disposed of as state surplus property, or destroyed based on the agency's judgment of the property's condition and value.

Subd. 4. Money. All lost or abandoned money and the proceeds from the sale of other abandoned or lost property retained by the State Patrol pursuant to this section must be deposited into the general fund.