(1) A person who violates this act is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of $1,000.00 or 10% of the value of any property impounded pursuant to this section, whichever amount is greater and court costs. If the county sheriff or local law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that a person is engaging in business as a transient merchant without having first obtained a license in the manner provided for in this act, the county sheriff or local law enforcement officer shall immediately take into custody and impound all goods offered for sale by the transient merchant until the matter has been adjudicated by a court of proper jurisdiction.
  (2) The transient merchant may obtain his or her impounded goods prior to adjudication by paying, either in cash or by security bond, $1,000.00 or an amount equal to the value of the impounded property, whichever amount is greater.

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 445.377

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes any corporation, or partnership, or 2 or more persons having a joint or common interest. See Michigan Laws 445.371
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  • Transient merchant: means any person, firm, association, or corporation engaging temporarily in a retail sale of goods, wares, or merchandise, in any place in this state and who, for the purpose of conducting business, occupies any lot, building, room, or structure of any kind. See Michigan Laws 445.371
  (3) If the transient merchant is convicted of violating this act and fails to pay the fine and court costs provided in subsection (1) within 7 days after the date of conviction, the sheriff or local law enforcement officer shall sell the impounded goods by publishing notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least 5 days before the sale. The notice shall describe the property and shall state the time and place of public sale at which the impounded property may be purchased by the highest bidder.
  (4) The sheriff or local law enforcement officer shall conduct the sale and shall deposit from the proceeds of the sale an amount equal to the fine and court costs provided in subsection (1) with the court in which the transient merchant was convicted. Any proceeds of the sale which exceed the fine shall be returned to the transient merchant. Any sheriff or local law enforcement officer disposing of property in the manner provided in this act shall not be liable to the transient merchant for the sale.
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