27 C.F.R. § 72.11

Current through September 30, 2024

Section 72.11 - Meaning of terms

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires, terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this section. Words in the plural form shall include the singular, and vice versa, and words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine. The terms "includes" and "including" do not exclude things not enumerated which are in the same general class.

ATF Officer. An officer or employee of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) duly authorized to perform any function relating to the administration or enforcement of this part.

Appraised value. The value placed upon seized property or carriers by the appraiser or appraisers designated for the purpose of determining whether the property or carriers may be forfeited administratively.

Carrier. A vessel, vehicle, or aircraft seized under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 11 for having been used to transport, carry, or conceal a contraband firearm or contraband cigarettes. Vessels, vehicles, or aircraft seized under other provisions of applicable laws shall be considered personal property.

Commercial crimes. Any of the following types of crimes (Federal or State): Offenses against the revenue laws; burglary; counterfeiting; forgery; kidnapping; larceny; robbery; illegal sale or possession of deadly weapons; prostitution (including soliciting, procuring, pandering, white slaving, keeping house of ill fame, and like offenses); extortion; swindling and confidence games; and attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, or compounding any of the foregoing crimes. Addiction to narcotic drugs and use of marihuana will be treated as if such were commercial crime.

Contraband cigarettes. Any quantity of cigarettes in excess of 60,000, if:

(a) The cigarettes bear no evidence of the payment of applicable State cigarette taxes in the State where the cigarettes are found;

(b) The State in which the cigarettes are found requires a stamp, impression, or other indication to be placed on packages or other containers of cigarettes to evidence payment of cigarette taxes; and

(c) The cigarettes are in the possession of any person other than any person who is:

(1) Holding a permit issued under 26 U.S.C. Chapter 52 as a manufacturer of tobacco products or as an export warehouse proprietor;

(2) Operating a customs bonded warehouse under 19 U.S.C. 1311 or 1555 ;

(3) An agent of a tobacco products manufacturer, an export warehouse proprietor, or an operator of a customs bonded warehouse;

(4) A common or contract carrier transporting the cigarettes involved under a proper bill of lading or freight bill which states the quantity, source, and destination of the cigarettes;

(5) Licensed or otherwise authorized by the State where the cigarettes are found to account for and pay cigarette taxes imposed by that State; and who has complied with the accounting and payment requirements relating to the license or authorization with respect to the cigarettes involved; or

(6) An agent of the United States, of an individual State, or of a political subdivision of a State and having possession of cigarettes in connection with the performance of official duties.

(7) Operating within a foreign-trade zone, established under 19 U.S.C. 81b , when the cigarettes involved have been entered into the foreign-trade zone under zone-restricted status or when foreign cigarettes have been admitted into the foreign-trade zone but have not been entered into the United States.

Contraband firearm. A firearm with respect to which there has been committed a violation of the National Firearms Act (26 U.S.C., Chapter 53) or any regulation issued thereunder.

Director. The Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC.

Equity. As used in administrative action on petitions for remission or mitigation of forfeitures, shall mean that interest which a petitioner has in the personal property or carrier petitioned for at the time of final administrative action on the petition, but such interest shall not be considered to include any unearned finance charges from the date of seizure or the date of default, if later; any amount rebatable on account of paid insurance premiums; attorney's fees for collection; any amount identified as dealer's reserve; or any amount in the nature of liquidated damages that may have been agreed upon by the buyer and the petitioner.

Person. An individual, trust, estate, partnership, association, company or a corporation.

Re-appraisal. An up-to-date statutory appraisal to determine the present value of the property or carrier involved in a petition for remission or mitigation of forfeiture made in the same manner as the original appraisal, and performed at the written request of the petitioner whose petition in regard to the property or carrier has been allowed and who, for reasonable cause, is not satisfied that the original appraisal represents the present value of the property or carrier.

Region. A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Region.

U.S.C. The United States Code.

27 C.F.R. § 72.11

T.D. ATF-48, 43 FR 13535, 3/31/1978; 44 FR 55841, 9/28/1979, as amended by T.D. ATF-65, 45 FR 8593, 2/8/1980; T.D. ATF-183, 49 FR 37061, 9/21/1984