Any machine gun possessed in violation of section 1051 is declared to be contraband and is subject to forfeiture to the State. Any law enforcement officer shall have the power to seize the same with due process. [PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW).] When a machine gun is seized as provided, the officer seizing the same shall immediately file with the judge before whom such warrant is returnable, a libel against the machine gun, setting forth the seizure and describing the machine gun and the place of seizure in a sufficient manner to reasonably identify it, that it was possessed in violation of law and pray for a decree of forfeiture thereof. Such judge shall fix a time for the hearing of such libel and shall issue his monition and notice of same to all persons interested, citing them to appear at the time and place appointed to show cause why such machine gun should not be declared forfeited, by causing true and attested copies of said libel and monition to be posted in 2 public and conspicuous places in the town and place where such machine gun was seized, 10 days at least before said libel is returnable. In addition, a true and attested copy of the libel and monition shall be served upon the person from whom said machine gun was seized and upon the owner thereof, if their whereabouts can be readily ascertained 10 days at least before said libel is returnable. In lieu of forfeiture proceedings, title to such seized machine gun may be transferred in writing to the State of Maine by the owner thereof. If title to and ownership in the machine gun is transferred to the State, a receipt for the machine gun shall be given to the former owner by the law enforcement officer who seized the machine gun. [PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW).]
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