Finders Keepers Law in NYS?
Hello guys, recently faced with the same problem but with a,little bit worst scenario . During December’s ice fishing on city owned Water supply reservoir located in Westchester county I found a fishing boat sunk on a bottom of that reservoir. With my friend’s assistance we dragged it to the shore( at least a small piece of a board is now above the water surface). I found it was last registered in 2003( every boat must be registered in DEP) And of course I’d like to claim my finder-keeper right. It should be a small book about HOW MUCH time I spent trying to do that in legit way . NYPD, Attorney General office, NYS Comptroller office, 311, Real Property Bureau, Consumer protection office, Public Advocate of the City of NY, name it. I’ve been completely surprised no one has an answer for me, even Attorney General Office attorney. In fact, America sometimes confuses me ; looks like not everything still regulated and clear. I’ve tried to apply an Admiralty Law but fresh water is not an ocean. Any suggestion ?
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I think the law is currently that you have to spend some time “turning it in” to find the owner, and if it is not claimed within a certain amount of time, then you can keep it.
Did you find anything with the DEP? Surely there must be some owner information somewhere. You could also put an ad in the newspaper, asking if it’s someone’s and the way to claim it is to have the person identify (from memory) a special mark or characteristic about it.
If there is nothing like that or no claims are made after a month, then I would just keep it.
Welcome to government run agencies. They won’t have a clue. I agree with @seekingwolf that if you spent a reasonable amount of time and energy looking for the owner, it’s yours. I would also say 30 days is plenty of time. Since it hasn’t been registered since ‘03, you’ve got a great chance of it ending up yours.
File a report with the police. If it is not claimed, you can have it.
Ha-ha, Thanks guys, I do really appreciate for your opinions. Since December 2009 ( when I found it) I made everything possible to find the late owner, to notify with almost every authority that have a chance to connect with that. I found strange things : no one knows nothing creating a dead circle. Indeed DEP computer has to keep information 6 years old but WHAT instrument will push them to release such info to me ? That a question. If the attorney from Albany ( Attorney General Office) was confused about such matter what can I tell you or 311 operator ? Today is a last chance for me to write to DEP Kingston office asking them finally. Chances look very small.
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