S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1579
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 17, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Codes
 
 AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the seizure and forfeiture
   of vehicles, vessels and aircraft used in counterfeit goods
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a  new  article  166  to
 read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 166
              SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE OF VEHICLES, VESSELS AND
                    AIRCRAFT USED IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS
 SECTION 166.00 SEIZURE  AND FORFEITURE OF VEHICLES, VESSELS AND AIRCRAFT
                  USED IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS.
 § 166.00 SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE OF VEHICLES, VESSELS AND  AIRCRAFT  USED
            IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS.
   1.  ANY VEHICLE, VESSEL OR AIRCRAFT WHICH HAS BEEN OR IS BEING USED IN
 VIOLATION OF SECTION 165.71, 165.72, OR 165.73 OF THIS  TITLE  SHALL  BE
 SEIZED  BY  ANY  PEACE  OFFICER,  WHO  IS  ACTING PURSUANT TO HIS OR HER
 SPECIAL DUTIES, OR POLICE OFFICER, AND FORFEITED  AS  PROVIDED  IN  THIS
 SECTION.    HOWEVER,  SUCH  FORFEITURE  AND SEIZURE PROVISIONS SHALL NOT
 APPLY TO ANY VEHICLE, VESSEL OR AIRCRAFT USED BY ANY PERSON AS A  COMMON
 CARRIER IN THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS AS SUCH COMMON CARRIER.
   2.  THE  SEIZED  PROPERTY  SHALL BE DELIVERED BY THE POLICE OFFICER OR
 PEACE OFFICER HAVING MADE THE SEIZURE TO THE  CUSTODY  OF  THE  DISTRICT
 ATTORNEY  OF  THE  COUNTY  WHEREIN THE SEIZURE WAS MADE, TOGETHER WITH A
 REPORT OF ALL THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SEIZURE.
   3. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE COUNTY WHEREIN
 THE SEIZURE IS MADE, TO  INQUIRE  INTO  THE  FACTS  OF  THE  SEIZURE  SO
 REPORTED  TO HIM OR HER AND IF IT APPEARS PROBABLE THAT A FORFEITURE HAS
 BEEN INCURRED BY REASON OF A VIOLATION OF  SECTION  165.71,  165.72,  OR
 165.73  OF THIS TITLE, FOR THE DETERMINATION OF WHICH THE INSTITUTION OF
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01477-01-3
              

 A. 1579                             2
 
 PROCEEDINGS IN THE SUPREME COURT  IS  NECESSARY,  TO  CAUSE  THE  PROPER
 PROCEEDINGS  TO  BE  COMMENCED  AND PROSECUTED, AT ANY TIME AFTER THIRTY
 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THE SEIZURE, TO DECLARE SUCH  FORFEITURE,  UNLESS,
 UPON  INQUIRY  AND  EXAMINATION,  SUCH  DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR CORPORATION
 COUNSEL DECIDES THAT SUCH PROCEEDINGS CAN NOT PROBABLY BE  SUSTAINED  OR
 THAT  THE  ENDS  OF  PUBLIC  JUSTICE  DO NOT REQUIRE THAT THEY SHOULD BE
 INSTITUTED OR PROSECUTED, IN WHICH CASE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR CORPO-
 RATION COUNSEL SHALL CAUSE SUCH SEIZED PROPERTY TO BE  RETURNED  TO  THE
 OWNER THEREOF.
   4.  NOTICE  OF  THE  INSTITUTION OF THE FORFEITURE PROCEEDING SHALL BE
 SERVED EITHER (A) PERSONALLY ON THE OWNERS OF THE  SEIZED  PROPERTY,  OR
 (B) BY REGISTERED MAIL TO THE OWNERS' LAST KNOWN ADDRESS AND BY PUBLICA-
 TION  OF  THE NOTICE ONCE A WEEK FOR TWO SUCCESSIVE WEEKS IN A NEWSPAPER
 PUBLISHED OR CIRCULATED IN THE COUNTY WHEREIN THE SEIZURE WAS MADE.
   5. FORFEITURE SHALL NOT BE ADJUDGED  WHERE  THE  OWNERS  ESTABLISH  BY
 PREPONDERANCE  OF THE EVIDENCE THAT (A) THE USE OF SUCH SEIZED PROPERTY,
 IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 165.71, 165.72, OR 165.73 OF THIS TITLE, WAS NOT
 INTENTIONAL ON THE PART OF ANY OWNER, OR (B) SUCH  SEIZED  PROPERTY  WAS
 USED IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 165.71, 165.72, OR 165.73 OF THIS TITLE, BY
 ANY  PERSON  OTHER THAN AN OWNER THEREOF, WHILE SUCH SEIZED PROPERTY WAS
 UNLAWFULLY IN THE POSSESSION OF A PERSON WHO ACQUIRED POSSESSION THEREOF
 IN VIOLATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, OR OF ANY STATE.
   6. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT  HAVING  CUSTODY  OF
 THE  SEIZED  PROPERTY,  AFTER SUCH JUDICIAL DETERMINATION OF FORFEITURE,
 SHALL, AT THEIR DISCRETION, EITHER RETAIN SUCH SEIZED PROPERTY  FOR  THE
 OFFICIAL USE OF THEIR OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT, OR, BY A PUBLIC NOTICE OF AT
 LEAST  FIVE  DAYS,  SELL SUCH FORFEITED PROPERTY AT PUBLIC SALE. THE NET
 PROCEEDS OF ANY SUCH  SALE,  AFTER  DEDUCTION  OF  THE  LAWFUL  EXPENSES
 INCURRED,  SHALL BE PAID INTO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE COUNTY WHEREIN THE
 SEIZURE WAS MADE.
   7. WHENEVER ANY PERSON INTERESTED IN ANY PROPERTY WHICH IS SEIZED  AND
 DECLARED  FORFEITED  UNDER  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION FILES WITH A
 JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME  COURT  A  PETITION  FOR  THE  RECOVERY  OF  SUCH
 FORFEITED  PROPERTY,  THE  JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT MAY RESTORE SUCH
 FORFEITED PROPERTY UPON SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS  HE  OR  SHE  DEEMS
 REASONABLE  AND JUST, IF THE PETITIONER ESTABLISHES EITHER OF THE AFFIR-
 MATIVE DEFENSES SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION  AND  THAT
 THE  PETITIONER  WAS WITHOUT PERSONAL OR ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE FORFEI-
 TURE PROCEEDING. IF  THE  PETITION  IS  FILED  AFTER  THE  SALE  OF  THE
 FORFEITED  PROPERTY,  ANY  JUDGMENT  IN FAVOR OF THE PETITIONER SHALL BE
 LIMITED TO THE NET PROCEEDS OF SUCH SALE AFTER DEDUCTION OF  THE  LAWFUL
 EXPENSES  AND COSTS INCURRED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, POLICE DEPARTMENT
 OR CORPORATION COUNSEL.
   8. NO SUIT OR ACTION UNDER THIS SECTION FOR WRONGFUL SEIZURE SHALL  BE
 INSTITUTED  UNLESS  SUCH  SUIT  OR  ACTION IS COMMENCED WITHIN TWO YEARS
 AFTER THE TIME WHEN THE PROPERTY WAS SEIZED.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.