{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-5-119.10","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 5-119.10","heading":"Sale at public auction; motor vehicle with lien of record; disposition of proceeds from sale.","body":"(a)\nWith respect to all property (including money), except perishable property, animals, firearms and property of persons with mental illness, not otherwise disposed of in accordance with § 5-119.09, that shall remain in the custody of the Property Clerk for not less than 90 days without being claimed and repossessed, the Property Clerk shall:\n(1)\nPublish or cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the District, once a week for 2 consecutive weeks:\n(A)\nNotice of the location where a full description of the property can be reviewed; and\n(B)\nNotice that if such property is not claimed by the rightful owner within 45 days from the date of 1st publication, title to the property shall revert to the finder of lost property after deduction for the expenses of custody and publication, or to the  District of Columbia in all other cases; and\n(2)\nPost or cause to be posted in the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters, where public notices are commonly or usually posted, a description of the property, and a copy of the notice published in the newspaper of general circulation in the District, and shall make a record of the date when such publication and the posting of the notices are made; and\n(3)\nPost or cause to be posted on the Metropolitan Police Department website a description of the property, and a copy of the notice published in the newspaper of general circulation in the District, and shall make a record of the date when such publication and the posting of the notices are made.\n\n(b)\nIf neither the rightful owner nor the finder appear to claim the lost property, title to such property shall transfer to the District government and the property may be retained by the Mayor for official government use or may be sold at public auction at  such place and time as the Property Clerk may direct and in such a manner as to expose to the inspection of bidders all property so offered for sale. The Property Clerk needs not offer any property for sale if, in the Property Clerk’s opinion, the probable cost  of sale exceeds the value of the property.\n\n(c)\nThe purchaser at any sale conducted by the Property Clerk pursuant to this section shall receive title to the property purchased, free from all claims of the rightful owner or the finder of the property and all persons claiming through and under the rightful owner or the finder. The Property Clerk shall execute all documents necessary to complete the transfer of title.\n\n(d)\nAll proceeds from any sale under this section shall be deposited in the General Fund of the District government.\n\n(e)\nRepealed.\n\n(f)\n(1)\nThe Mayor shall, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, issue proposed rules to implement the provisions of this section.\n(2)\nThe proposed rules shall be submitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed rules, in whole or in part, by resolution within this 45-day review period, the proposed rules shall be deemed approved. Nothing in this section shall affect any requirements imposed upon the Mayor by subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2.","path":["Title 5. Police, Firefighters, Medical Examiner, and Forensic Sciences.","Chapter 1. Metropolitan Police.","Subchapter X. Property."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/5-119.10","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"eca15851ee525e89f6518efde106116b58d1d71b8e4770a88250ac2745fc2610","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-5-119.09","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-5-119.11"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}