Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Washington

Re: Lost and found

RCW 63.21.060

Duties of governmental entity acquiring lost property -- Disposal of property.

Any governmental entity that acquires lost property shall attempt to notify the apparent owner of the property. If the property is not returned to a person validly establishing ownership or right to possession of the property, the governmental entity shall forward the lost property within thirty days but not less than ten days after the time the governmental entity acquires the lost property to the chief law enforcement officer, or his or her designated representative, of the county in which the property was found, except that if the property is found within the borders of a city or town the property shall be forwarded to the chief law enforcement officer of the city or town or his or her designated representative. A governmental entity may elect to retain property which it acquires and dispose of the property as provided by chapter 63.32 or 63.40 RCW.

[1979 ex.s. c 85 � 6.]

Re: Lost and found

The police are looking at a statute about property they aquire in their line of duty. There is another statute that covers lost and found property. Part of RCW 63.21 states," RCW 63.21.020

Circumstances extinguishing finder's claim to property.

The finder's claim to the property shall be extinguished:

(1) If the owner satisfactorily establishes, within sixty days after the find was reported to the appropriate officer, the owner's right to possession of the property; or

(2) If the chief law enforcement officer determines and so informs the finder that the property is illegal for the finder to possess.

You might ask them to look at the lost and found statute and return the property to you.