273Release to owner

273 Release to owner (1) If a thing is to be released under this Division, the Commissioner of Police must make a reasonable effort to identify an owner of the thing. The registration information about a motor vehicle is not conclusive evidence of its ownership. (2) A thing to be released under this Division must be released to the person who the Commissioner of Police believes on reasonable grounds is the primary owner of the thing. (3) If the Commissioner of Police cannot identify the primary owner of the thing, a thing released under this Division must be released to a person whom the Commissioner of Police believes on reasonable grounds owns, or has an interest in, the thing.

Liquor Act 2019 148 (4) The person to whom a thing is being released may arrange for the thing to be collected by another person on the person's behalf. (5) If an owner is identified after reasonable efforts, the Commissioner of Police must give written notice of the following to each owner: (a) the process for taking possession of the thing; (b) the process for disposing of the thing if no one takes possession of it. (6) The release of a thing under this Division does not affect any property right a person may have in the thing. (7) A thing to be released under this Division must be dealt with under section 166 of the Police Administration Act 1978 if: (a) no owner or person with an interest in the thing is identified after reasonable efforts; or (b) no owner or person with an interest in the thing is willing to take possession of the thing within 90 days of being notified; or (c) no owner or person with an interest in the thing makes arrangements to take possession of the thing within 90 days of being notified.