46-5-308. Order. - Montana Statutes

     46-5-308. Order. (1) The court may enter an order providing for the destruction or disposition of the evidence. If a victim of the offense wishes to be heard on the petition, the court shall schedule a hearing on the petition and shall allow the victim to be heard in open court. The court shall consider the victim's statements prior to issuing an order under this section. A proposed order must be presented by the petitioner to the court and may include:
     (a) authorization to destroy all contraband listed in the petition, the method of destruction, and the time within which the destruction must be accomplished;
     (b) if certain contraband is requested by the petitioner for training or law enforcement purposes, authorization to use the items and a description of each;
     (c) if the petition requests training or law enforcement use of noncontraband items, authorization to retain the items by the law enforcement agency and a description of the items;
     (d) if the evidence is money and the owner cannot be ascertained and no civil forfeiture action is pending, authorization to deposit the money to the appropriate city, county, or state drug forfeiture fund;
     (e) if the petition requests, authorization to sell noncontraband property at public sale or auction and to deposit the proceeds to the appropriate city, county, or state drug forfeiture fund; or
     (f) authorization to destroy all items not otherwise provided for.
     (2) The order must specify the time period in which destruction or sale must occur. Within 10 days following the destruction or sale, a return must be filed with the court, listing the property destroyed or sold and the date and method of disposition.

     History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 348, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 186, L. 1997.