(a)  If the lien in favor of the State of California in the amount owing as provided by Section 18116.1 is against a commercial coach, and that lien has not been satisfied for a period of one year from the date the commercial coach became subject to the lien, the department may collect the amount of the lien on the commercial coach plus costs not to exceed four hundred fifty dollars ($450) by appropriate civil action or by seizure and sale of the commercial coach and its contents on which the lien has been placed or by seizure and sale of any other commercial coach owned by the owner of the commercial coach on which the lien has been placed.

(b)  At least 10 days before the seizure, notice of the lien and of the intent to seize and sell the commercial coach and its contents shall be given by the department to the registered owner and legal owners, and any other persons known to be claiming an interest in the commercial coach or its contents, by registered mail addressed to those persons at the last known address appearing on the department’s records.

(c)  Any person receiving the notice of the lien and the intent to seize and sell the commercial coach and its contents may request a hearing to contest the existence or the amount of the lien. If no hearing is requested, the commercial coach and its contents shall be seized and sold.

(d)  If a hearing is requested, a 10-day notice shall be given of the time and place of the hearing, which shall be held within the county of residence of the person requesting the hearing or of the registered owner. The hearing shall be conducted by a referee, who shall submit findings and recommendations to the director of the department or the director’s authorized representative, who shall decide the matter. The decision shall be effective on notice thereof to the interested parties.

(e)  At any time before seizure or sale, any registered owner, legal owner or person claiming an interest in the commercial coach or its contents may pay the department the amount of the lien, plus costs. In that event, the seizure and sale shall not be held and the commercial coach and its contents, if seized, shall be returned by the department to the person entitled to its possession. This payment shall not constitute a waiver of the right to a hearing.

(f)  When the department or an authorized agent has reasonable cause to believe that the lien may be jeopardized within the 10-day notice of intent period, the commercial coach and its contents may be seized without prior notice to the registered owner or legal owner, upon obtaining authorization for the seizure from the director of the department or the director’s authorized representative. In those cases, a notice of the lien and the intent to sell the commercial coach and its contents shall be given by the department to the registered and legal owners and anyone known to be claiming an interest in the commercial coach or its contents, within 48 hours after seizure, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and the holidays specified in § 6700 of the Government Code. Any hearing to contest the lien and the seizure shall be requested within 10 days of the date that notice was placed in the United States mail.

(g)  When a lien exists against one or more commercial coaches owned by the same person, persons, or company, the department may seize and sell a sufficient number of commercial coaches to satisfy the lien plus costs, in accordance with subdivision (a).

(h)  Any state, municipality, or county law enforcement agency may assist with the seizure and impounding of the commercial coach.

(i)  The department shall make a physical inventory of all the contents of a commercial coach that has been seized within 24 hours of the time of seizure. Copies of the inventory of contents shall be made available to any one rightfully entitled to that information.

(j)  After deducting from the proceeds of sale, any amount due to satisfy the lien in favor of the state and the cost of the seizure and sale, any excess proceeds of sale shall be deposited in a special account. The registered owner, legal owner, or anyone claiming an interest in the mobilehome or its contents may file a claim to share in the excess proceeds of sale within one year from the date of sale. If any excess proceeds of sale remain in this special account after one year from the date of sale that money shall be transferred to the Mobilehome-Manufactured Home Revolving Fund.

(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 765, Sec. 5.)