Sec. 15-140c. Abandonment of vessel. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 15-140c. Abandonment of vessel. (a) No person shall abandon any vessel on the waters of this state or upon property other than his own without the consent of the owner thereof. For the purposes of this section, a vessel shall be presumed to be abandoned if left on the waters of this state not moored, anchored or made fast to the shore and unattended for a period greater than twenty-four hours, or left upon property other than his own without the consent of said property owner for a period greater than twenty-four hours. The last owner of record of a vessel at the time it was abandoned shall be presumed to be the person who abandoned the same or caused or procured its abandonment.

      (b) Any officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter upon discovery of any vessel apparently abandoned, whether situated on or out of the waters of the state, may take such vessel into his custody and may cause the same to be taken to and stored in a suitable place. There shall be no liability attached to such officer for any damages to such vessel while in his custody. All charges necessarily incurred by such officer in the performance of such duty shall be a lien upon such vessel. The owner or keeper of any marina or other place where such vessel is stored shall have a lien upon the same for his storage charges and if such vessel has been stored for a period of not less than sixty days, such owner or keeper may sell the same for storage charges owed thereon, provided a notice of intent to sell shall be sent to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, Commissioner of Transportation and the owner of such vessel, if known, five days before the sale of such vessel. If the owner is unknown, such sale shall be advertised in a newspaper published or having a circulation in the town where such marina or other place is located three times, commencing at least five days before the sale. The proceeds of such sale, after deducting the amount due such marina owner or keeper and all expenses of the officer who placed such vessel in storage, shall be paid to the owner of such vessel or his legal representatives, if claimed by him or them at any time within one year from the date of such sale. If such balance is not claimed within said period, it shall escheat to the state.

      (P.A. 73-257, S. 22, 27.)