N.Y. NAV Law § 69

§ 69. Seizure of public vessels. Whenever the inspector shall find\nafter investigation or have reasonable cause to believe that any public\nvessel is being operated in contravention of the provisions of this\narticle, or is being operated by an unlicensed person by and with the\nconsent of the owner, he may seize and impound such vessel until the\ntermination of the action against the owner to recover the penalty\ntherefor and thereafter until the penalty imposed by the court or\njustice has been paid. Such seizure and impoundment of any public vessel\nby the inspector shall be at the owner's risk. Within fifteen days after\nthe entry of judgment by the court or justice, the inspector may, unless\nthe judgment be sooner paid and in lieu of proceeding by body execution,\nsell the public vessel so impounded at public sale upon notice to the\nowner. Notice of the sale, specifying the date, place and hour of the\nsale shall be served upon the owner of the public vessel personally or\nby registered mail addressed to him at his last known post-office\naddress, and published not less than ten days before the sale. The\npublication of notice of sale shall be made in a newspaper or newspapers\ndesignated by the commissioner having general circulation in the county\nwhere the public vessel was seized and impounded. The proceeds of sale\nshall first be applied in payment of the judgment and expenses of sale\nand the remainder shall be paid to the owner of the public vessel or\nother person lawfully entitled thereto. If the commissioner is unable to\ndetermine by reasonable investigation the person or persons entitled to\nthe remainder of the proceeds of sale, he may deposit the same with the\nsupreme court in the third judicial district for final determination\nthereon.\n