Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code
Sec.
§
103.16
Forfeiture of a Seized Vehicle
(a)
In a suit for forfeiture of a vehicle seized under Section 103.03 of this code, the state shall have the burden of proving that the vehicle was used to transport an illicit beverage and that all intervenors under Subsection (b) of this section, if any, knowingly violated some provision of this code.
(b)
Any person with an ownership or security interest in the vehicle may intervene in the suit for forfeiture to establish his rights. An intervenor under the provisions of this section has the burden of proving that he has a valid ownership or security interest in the vehicle.
(c)
If the state fails to prove that the vehicle was used to transport an illicit beverage, the court shall render judgment returning the vehicle to the owner.
(d)
If the state proves that the vehicle was used to transport an illicit beverage and that all intervenors, if any, knowingly violated some provision of this code, the court shall render judgment forfeiting the vehicle to the state.
(e)
If the state proves that the vehicle was used to transport an illicit beverage but fails to prove that any intervenor knowingly violated some provision of this code, the court shall render judgment delivering possession of the vehicle to the innocent intervenor with the highest priority to possession of the vehicle.Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 508, ch. 194, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.