N.Y. Navigation Law § 69: Seizure of public vessels

§ 69. Seizure of public vessels. Whenever the inspector shall find

after investigation or have reasonable cause to believe that any public

vessel is being operated in contravention of the provisions of this

article, or is being operated by an unlicensed person by and with the

consent of the owner, he may seize and impound such vessel until the

termination of the action against the owner to recover the penalty

therefor and thereafter until the penalty imposed by the court or

justice has been paid. Such seizure and impoundment of any public vessel

by the inspector shall be at the owner's risk. Within fifteen days after

the entry of judgment by the court or justice, the inspector may, unless

the judgment be sooner paid and in lieu of proceeding by body execution,

sell the public vessel so impounded at public sale upon notice to the

owner. Notice of the sale, specifying the date, place and hour of the

sale shall be served upon the owner of the public vessel personally or

by registered mail addressed to him at his last known post-office

address, and published not less than ten days before the sale. The

publication of notice of sale shall be made in a newspaper or newspapers

designated by the commissioner having general circulation in the county

where the public vessel was seized and impounded. The proceeds of sale

shall first be applied in payment of the judgment and expenses of sale

and the remainder shall be paid to the owner of the public vessel or

other person lawfully entitled thereto. If the commissioner is unable to

determine by reasonable investigation the person or persons entitled to

the remainder of the proceeds of sale, he may deposit the same with the

supreme court in the third judicial district for final determination

thereon.