705.182 Disposal of personal property found on the premises of public-use airports. - Florida Statutes

705.182 Disposal of personal property found on the premises of public-use airports.

   (1) Whenever any personal property, other than an aircraft or motor vehicle, is found on premises owned or controlled by the operator of a public-use airport, the director of the airport or the director’s designee shall take charge of the property and make a record of the date such property was found.

   (2) If, within 30 calendar days after such property is found or for a longer period of time as may be deemed appropriate by the director or the director’s designee under the circumstances, the property is not claimed by the owner, the director or the director’s designee may:

   (a) Retain any or all of the property for use by the airport or for use by the state or the unit of local government owning or operating the airport;

   (b) Trade such property to another unit of local government or a state agency;

   (c) Donate the property to a charitable organization;

   (d) Sell the property; or

   (e) Dispose of the property through an appropriate refuse removal company or a company that provides salvage services for the type of personal property found or located on the airport premises.

   (3) The airport shall notify the owner, if known, of the property found on the airport premises and that the airport intends to dispose of the property as provided in subsection (2).

   (4) If the airport elects to sell the property under paragraph (2)(d), the property must be sold at a public auction either on the Internet or at a specified physical location after giving notice of the time and place of sale, at least 10 calendar days prior to the date of sale, in a publication of general circulation within the county where the airport is located and after written notice, via certified mail, return receipt requested, is provided to the owner, if known. Any such notice shall be sufficient if the notice refers to the airport’s intention to sell all then-accumulated found property, and there is no requirement that the notice identify each item to be sold. The rightful owner of such property may reclaim the property at any time prior to sale by presenting acceptable evidence of ownership to the airport director or the director’s designee. All proceeds from the sale of the property shall be retained by the airport for use by the airport in any lawfully authorized manner.

   (5) Nothing in this section shall preclude the airport from allowing a domestic or international air carrier or other tenant, on premises owned or controlled by the operator of a public-use airport, to establish its own lost and found procedures for personal property and to dispose of such personal property.

   (6) A purchaser or recipient in good faith of personal property sold or obtained under this section shall take the property free of the rights of persons then holding any legal or equitable interest thereto, whether or not recorded.

History. s. 45, ch. 2010-225.