Effective: July 1, 2007
Latest Legislation: House Bill 241 - 126th General Assembly
The judge of a court of record may issue warrants to search a house, building, place, vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, or conveyance for beer, alcohol, or intoxicating liquor manufactured, possessed, stored, concealed, sold, furnished, given away, or transported in violation of Chapters 4301. and 4303. of the Revised Code, and the containers in which the same is found, or machinery, tools, implements, equipment, supplies, and materials used or kept for use in manufacturing beer or intoxicating liquor in violation of those chapters, and to seize any of that property and things found in it, together with the vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, or conveyance in which the same is found. The issuance of those warrants is subject in all respects to sections 2933.22 to 2933.27 of the Revised Code; except that any such vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, or other conveyance shall be returned to its owner upon execution by the owner of a bond with surety to the satisfaction of the enforcement agent of the department of public safety or other law enforcement officer making the seizure in an equal amount to its value, conditioned upon its return to the custody of such agent or officer on the day of trial to abide by the judgment of the court. Upon conviction of any violation of Chapters 4301. and 4303. of the Revised Code, any property found in the possession of the person convicted or the person's agent or employee shall be disposed of as provided in section 4301.45 of the Revised Code. If the accused is discharged by the judge or magistrate, such vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, or other conveyance shall be returned to its owner, and any bond given pursuant to this section shall be canceled. If the accused is the holder of a permit issued under Chapters 4301. and 4303. of the Revised Code, any beer, intoxicating liquor, or alcohol seized shall be disposed of as provided in section 4301.29 of the Revised Code, and any other property seized shall be returned to its owner by the officer having the custody or possession of such property. If the accused is not the holder of such a permit in force at the time, any beer, intoxicating liquor, or alcohol that was not illegally manufactured shall be forfeited to the state and shall forthwith be disposed of under sections 2981.11 to 2981.13 of the Revised Code. Illegally manufactured beer, intoxicating liquor, or alcohol, and other property, except as provided in this section, shall be destroyed, and any such beer, intoxicating liquor, or alcohol, or other property is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.