Unclaimed property and weapons—Disposition.
El Paso City Code § 3.32.040
in effect3.32.040 - Unclaimed property and weapons—Disposition.
A. When the disposition of the property is not otherwise governed by the law or by order of a court, and the abandoned or unclaimed property remains unclaimed for a period of thirty days after it comes into the custody of the chief of police, it shall be delivered for sale to the purchasing agent of the city.
B. When the disposition of lost, abandoned or unclaimed weapons is not otherwise governed by law or order of a court, and where such weapons remain unclaimed for a period of thirty days after coming into the custody of the chief of police, such weapons shall be destroyed by a police officer designated by the chief of police, unless the city police department seeks forfeiture of the weapon in accord with Articles 18.18 and 18.19 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
1. The terms "weapons" includes, but is not limited to, the items defined in Vernon's Texas Penal Code, Section 46.01.
2. The chief of police or his designated representative shall maintain a record containing the following information for each weapon destroyed:
a. Description of the weapon, including identifying numbers;
b. Time and location of the destruction;
c. Sworn statement by the designated police officer that the destruction has taken place; and
d. Signature of witness to the destruction.
3. When the police department seeks forfeiture of the weapon in lieu of destruction, the chief of police or his designated representative shall maintain on file a copy of the judgment from the appropriate court awarding the forfeiture of the weapon(s) to the police department.
(Ord. 9437, 1988: prior code § 2-19)
Source: City of El Paso, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/el_paso/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT3REFI_CH3.32ABLOSTUNPR_3.32.040UNPRWEISFetched: 10/28/2026