Montana Title 23. Parks, Recreation, Sports, and Gambling § 23-5-184. Disposition of property

(a) If proper proof of a claim is presented at the hearing by the holder of a security interest, the court shall order the personal property released to the holder of the security interest if the amount due the holder is equal to or in excess of the value of the personal property as of the date of seizure. If the amount due the holder of the security interest is less than the value of the personal property, the personal property may be sold at public auction by the law enforcement agency that seized the personal property in the manner provided by law for the sale of property under execution. The proceeds of the sale must first be used to pay the amount due to the holder of the security interest, with the remainder deposited in the account provided for in subsection (3). Instead of sale at public auction, the law enforcement agency may turn the personal property over to the holder of the security interest. The personal property may not be sold to an officer or employee of the law enforcement agency that seized the property or to a person related to an officer or employee by blood or marriage.

(b) If there is no security interest claimant and the law enforcement agency that seized the personal property wishes to retain the property for its official use, it may do so. If the personal property is not retained, it must be sold at public auction by the law enforcement agency that seized the personal property in the manner provided by law for the sale of property under execution and the proceeds of the sale must be deposited in the account provided for in subsection (3).

(c) If a security interest claimant has presented proper proof of a claim and the law enforcement agency that seized the personal property wishes to retain the property for its official use, it may do so provided it compensates the claimant in the amount of the security interest outstanding at the time of the seizure.