North Dakota Century Code Title 29. Judicial Procedure, Criminal § 29-31.1-07. Nonforfeitable interest--Purchase of forfeitable interest

1. Property may not be forfeited under this chapter to the extent of an interest of an owner who had no part in the commission of the crime and who had no knowledge of the criminal use or intended use of the property. However, if it is established that the owner permitted the use of the property under circumstances in which a reasonable person should have inquired into the intended use of the property and that the owner failed to do so, there is a rebuttable presumption that the owner knew that the property was intended to be used in the commission of a crime.

2. Upon receipt of forfeited property, the seizing agency shall permit any owner or lienholder of record having a nonforfeitable property interest in the property the opportunity to purchase the property interest forfeited. If the owner or lienholder does not exercise the option under this subsection within sixty days of mailing of written notice to such person of such option, the option is terminated unless the time for exercising the option is extended by the seizing agency.

3. A person having a valid, recorded lien or property interest in forfeited property, which has not been repurchased pursuant to subsection 2, must either be reimbursed to the extent of the nonforfeitable property interest or to the extent of the amount raised by the sale of the item, whichever amount is less. The sale of forfeited property must be conducted in a manner that is commercially reasonable and calculated to provide a sufficient return to cover the cost of the sale and reimburse any nonforfeitable interest. The validity of a lien or property interest is determined as of the date the property is seized. All costs and expenses of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody, advertising, and court costs, must be first deducted from the sale proceeds and paid to the party incurring such costs and expenses.

4. This section does not preclude a civil suit by an owner of an interest in forfeited property against the party who, by criminal use, caused the property to become forfeited to the seizing agency.