This part prescribes procedures governing the disposition of recovered stolen mail matter and any other property (real, personal, tangible or intangible) obtained by the Postal Inspection Service for possible use as evidence after the need to retain such property no longer exists. Property obtained by Postal Inspectors which appears to have been loose in the mails but is not retained for use as evidence, except unlawful matter, must be treated in accordance with postal regulations concerning disposition of dead mail (see Domestic Manual (DMM) 159.4). Unlawful matter must be disposed of in accordance with § 946.3.

Where an apparent owner of property subject to this part is known, the Chief Postal Inspector or delegate will mail, by certified mail to the apparent owner's last known address, written notice describing the property and the procedure for filing a claim for its return (see §§ 946.3 and 946.7). Such claims must be filed within 30 days from the date the notice is postmarked. If the apparent owner of the property fails to file a timely claim, the property is considered abandoned and must be disposed of as provided in § 946.6.

Claims submitted with respect to property subject to this part, possession of which is unlawful, must be denied, in writing, by certified mail and the person submitting the claim must be accorded 45 days from the postmarked date to institute judicial proceedings to challenge the denial. If judicial proceedings are not instituted within 45 days, or any extension of time for good cause shown, the contraband property must be destroyed unless the Chief Postal Inspector or delegate determines that it should be placed in official use by the Postal Inspection Service. Property subject to this part, the disposition of which is involved in litigation or is subject to an order of court, must be disposed of as determined by the court.

(a) Where no apparent owner of property subject to this part is known, except property described in § 946.3, and the Chief Postal Inspector or delegate estimates that the fair market value of the property exceeds $200, and the property is not needed as evidence, the Chief Postal Inspector or delegate must publish notice providing the following information:

(1) A description of the property including model or serial numbers, if known;

(2) The name, address, and telephone number of the Postal Inspector in Charge who has custody of the property; and

(3) A statement inviting any person who believes that he or she is fully entitled to the property to submit a claim for its return with the Postal Inspector in Charge who is identified in the notice. Such claim must be submitted within 30 days from the date of first publication of the notice (See § 946.7).

(b) The notice under § 946.4(a) must be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in a publication of general circulation within the judicial district where the Postal Inspection Service took possession of the property.

Where the owner of property subject to this part is unknown and the Chief Postal Inspector or delegate estimates that fair market value of such property is $200 or less, title to the property vests in the United States Postal Service, subject to the right of the owner to submit a valid claim as provided in § 946.6.

(a) Upon expiration of the time provided in §§ 946.2 and 946.4(a)(3) for the filing of claims or any extension thereof, and without the receipt of a timely claim, the property described in the notice is considered abandoned and becomes the property of the United States Postal Service. However, if the owner satisfies the requirements of § 946.6(b), except for property described in § 946.3, such abandoned property must be returned to the owner if a valid claim is filed within 3 years from the date the property became abandoned, with the following qualifications:

(1) Where property has been placed in official use by the Postal Inspection Service, a person submitting a valid claim under this section must be reimbursed the fair market value of the property at the time title vested in the United States Postal Service, less costs incurred by the Postal Service in returning or attempting to return such property to the owner and;

(2) Where property has been sold, a person submitting a valid claim under this section must be reimbursed the same amount as the last appraised value of the property prior to the sale of such property.

(b) In order to present a valid claim under § 946.6(a), the claimant must establish that he or she had no actual or constructive notice prior to the date the property became abandoned that he or she was entitled to file a claim pursuant to § 946.2 or § 946.4. Publication of notice pursuant to § 946.4 provides constructive notice unless a claimant can demonstrate circumstances which reasonably precluded his access to the published notice.

Claims submitted pursuant to this part must be submitted on Postal Service Form 1503 which may be obtained from the Inspector in Charge who has custody of the property.

Upon receipt of a claim under this part, the Postal Inspection Service must conduct an investigation to determine the merits of the claim. The results of the investigation must be submitted to the Chief Postal Inspector or delegate who must approve or deny the claim by written decision, a copy of which must be forwarded to the claimant by certified mail. If the claim is approved, the procedures to be followed by the claimant to obtain return of the property, or its determined value, must be stated. If the claim is denied, the decision must state the reasons therefor.

A written request for reconsideration of denied claims may be submitted within 10 days of the postmarked date of the mailing denying the claim. Such requests must be addressed to the Chief Postal Inspector or delegate and must be based on evidence recently developed or not previously presented.

Records regarding property subject to this part will be retained for a period of 3 years following return of the property to its owner or a determination that the property is abandoned.

Property declared abandoned, including cash, and proceeds from the sale of property subject to this part may be shared by the Postal Inspection Service with federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies. Unless the Chief Postal Inspector determines that cash or the proceeds of the sale of the abandoned property are to be shared with other law enforcement agencies, such cash or proceeds shall be deposited in the Postal Service Fund established by 39 U.S.C. 2003. The authority to make this determination may be delegated by the Chief Postal Inspector.