United States Coin & Currency in the Amount of $21,162.00 v. Director of Finance

We are here presented with a narrow question, and find that the answer becomes self-evident by simply reading a section of the Maryland Code. The question is whether appellee Director of Finance of Baltimore City may obtain title to $21,162 seized by the city police in a gambling raid, even though he failed to file his forfeiture petition within the time frame set out in § 264 of Article 27. Md. Code (1957, 1976 Repl. Vol.). We determine that by inaction the director forfeited his rights with respect to this coin and currency; consequently, we will reverse the order of the Baltimore City…