2023 Maryland Statutes › Criminal Procedure › Title 12 - Forfeiture -- Controlled Dangerous Substances Violations › Subtitle 1 - Definitions; Property Subject to Forfeiture › Section 12-101 - Definitions

(a)    In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    “Chief executive officer” means:
(1)    for Baltimore City, the Mayor;
(2)    for a charter county, the county executive or, if there is no county executive, the county council;
(3)    for a code county, the county commissioners or county council;
(4)    for a county commissioner county, the county commissioners; or
(5)    for a municipal corporation, the legislative body established by municipal charter.
(c)    “Controlled Dangerous Substances law” means Title 5 of the Criminal Law Article.
(d)    “Convicted” means found guilty.
(e)    “Final disposition” means a dismissal, entry of a nolle prosequi, the marking of a criminal charge “stet” on the docket, entry of a not guilty verdict, the pronouncement of sentence, or imposition of probation under § 6-220 of this article.
(f)    “Forfeiting authority” means:
(1)    the unit or person designated by agreement between the State’s Attorney for a county and the chief executive officer of the governing body having jurisdiction over assets subject to forfeiture to act on behalf of the governing body regarding those assets; or
(2)    if the seizing authority is a unit of the State, a unit or person that the Attorney General or the Attorney General’s designee designates by agreement with a State’s Attorney, county attorney, or municipal attorney to act on behalf of the State regarding assets subject to forfeiture by the State.
(g)    “Governing body” includes:
(1)    the State, if the seizing authority is a unit of the State;
(2)    a county, if the seizing authority is a unit of a county;
(3)    a municipal corporation, if the seizing authority is a unit of a municipality; and
(4)    Baltimore City, if the seizing authority is the Police Department of Baltimore City.
(h)    “Lien” includes a mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, or right of setoff.
(i)    “Lienholder” means a person who has a lien or a secured interest on property created before the seizure.
(j)    “Local financial authority” means:
(1)    if the seizing authority is a unit of a county, the treasurer or director of finance of the county; or
(2)    if the seizing authority is a unit of a municipal corporation, the treasurer or director of finance of that municipal corporation.
(k)    (1)    “Owner” means a person having a legal, equitable, or possessory interest in property.
(2)    “Owner” includes:
(i)    a co-owner;
(ii)    a life tenant;
(iii)    a remainderman to a life tenancy in real property;
(iv)    a holder of an inchoate interest in real property; and
(v)    a bona fide purchaser for value.
(l)    “Proceeds” includes property derived directly or indirectly in connection with or as a result of a crime under the Controlled Dangerous Substances law.
(m)    (1)    “Property” includes:
(i)    real property and anything growing on or attached to real property;
(ii)    tangible and intangible personal property, including:
1.    securities;
2.    negotiable and nonnegotiable instruments;
3.    vehicles and conveyances of any type;
4.    privileges;
5.    interests;
6.    claims; and
7.    rights;
(iii)    an item, object, tool, substance, device, or weapon used in connection with a crime under the Controlled Dangerous Substances law; and
(iv)    money.
(2)    “Property” does not include:
(i)    an item unlawfully in the possession of a person other than the owner when used in connection with a crime under the Controlled Dangerous Substances law; or
(ii)    a lessor’s interest in property subject to a bona fide lease, unless the forfeiting authority can show that the lessor participated in a crime under the Controlled Dangerous Substances law or that the property was the proceeds of a crime under the Controlled Dangerous Substances law.
(n)    (1)    “Real property” means land or an improvement to land.
(2)    “Real property” includes:
(i)    a leasehold or other limited interest in real property;
(ii)    an easement; and
(iii)    a reversionary interest in a 99-year ground lease renewable forever.
(o)    “Seizing authority” means a law enforcement unit in the State that is authorized to investigate violations of the Controlled Dangerous Substances law and that has seized property under this title.