Section 173A: Power to seize vehicle

173A. Power to seize vehicle (1) Where the owner of a motor vehicle is convicted of an offence under section 173, expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Commissioner or the Commissioner of Police in implementing that section shall be recoverable as a civil debt from the owner of the motor vehicle. (2) (a) Where a motor vehicle is detained under section 173, the Commissioner or the Commissioner of Police shall, with all reasonable despatch, give notice in writing to the owner, where his name and address is known, of the seizure. (b) Where the motor vehicle is not claimed by its owner within one month of the date of its detention, the Commissioner or the Commissioner of Police may, after giving one month’s notice in the Gazette of his intention to do so, sell by public auction or otherwise dispose of the motor vehicle. (c) Any proceeds from the sale or disposal of the motor vehicle shall be applied in payment of— (i) any licence fee which may be due in respect of the motor vehicle; (ii) any charge incurred in implementing this section. (d) Any surplus shall be— (i) paid to the owner of the motor vehicle; or (ii) where it is not claimed by the owner of the vehicle within 12 months after the date of its sale or disposal, forfeited to the Government. [S. 173A inserted by s. 13 of Act 46 of 2002 w.e.f. 15 May 2003.]