§47-23-10. Transportation of charitable raffle boards and games; forfeitures and sales of charitable raffle boards, charitable raffle games and equipment; criminal sanctions.

Every person who shall knowingly transport charitable raffle boards or games upon the public highways, waterways, airways, roads or streets of this state shall have in his actual possession invoices or delivery tickets for such charitable raffle boards or games which shall show the true name and the complete and exact address of the manufacturer, the true name and complete and exact address of the wholesaler or distributor who is the purchaser, the quantity and description of the charitable raffle boards and games transported and the true name and complete and exact address of the person who has or shall assume payment of the West Virginia state fee, or the tax, if any, of the state or foreign country at the point of ultimate destination. In the absence of such invoices, delivery tickets or bills of lading, as the case may be, the charitable raffle boards or games so transported, the vehicle or vessel in which the charitable raffle boards or games are being transported and any paraphernalia or devices used in connection with such, are declared to be contraband goods and may be seized by the commissioner, his agents or employees or by any peace officer of the state without a warrant.

Any person who transports charitable raffle boards or games in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $5,000, or imprisoned in the county jail not more than one year, or both.

Charitable raffle boards and games seized under this section shall be forthwith destroyed in the manner provided hereinafter in this section and such destruction shall not relieve the owner of the destroyed charitable raffle boards and games of any action by the commissioner for violations of this or any other sections of this article.

The commissioner shall immediately, after any seizure made pursuant to this section, institute a proceeding for the confiscation thereof in the circuit court of the county in which the seizure is made. The court may proceed in a summary manner and may direct confiscation by the commissioner: Provided, That any person claiming to be the holder of a security interest in any vehicle or vessel, the disposition of which is provided for above, may present his petition so alleging and be heard, and in the event it appears to the court that the property was unlawfully used by a person other than such claimant, and if the said claimant acquired his security interest in good faith and without knowledge that the vehicle or vessel was going to be so used, the court shall waive forfeiture in favor of such claimant and order the vehicle or vessel returned to such claimant.