(a) The judge before whom any person is tried for the wrongful taking, possessing, killing, or slaughter of cattle without the consent of the owner or the person lawfully in possession of those cattle may, upon the conviction of the person tried, order the forfeiture of any device or apparatus that is designed to be, or is capable of being, used to commit the offense charged, and which was used in committing the offense charged. “Device or apparatus” includes, but is not limited to, any vehicle that is used or intended for use in taking, possessing, harboring, or transporting the cattle.
(b) Any device or apparatus ordered forfeited shall be sold, used, or destroyed by the department.
(c) The provisions in this section authorizing a judge to order the forfeiture of a device or apparatus are also applicable to the judge, referee, or juvenile hearing officer in a juvenile court action brought under Section 258 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(d) For purposes of this section, a plea of nolo contendere or no contest, or forfeiture of bail, constitutes a conviction.
(e) Neither the disposition of the criminal action other than by conviction nor the discretionary refusal of the judge to order forfeiture upon conviction impairs the right of the department to commence proceedings to order the forfeiture of property pursuant to any other provision of law.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 149, Sec. 14. Effective January 1, 2004.)