(a) Any other provisions to the law contrary notwithstanding, the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall be responsible for the disposal of any agency vehicles or property. Such vehicles or property shall be sold by the Secretary or his or her designee either at public auction or by a negotiated sale by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to any other state department or agency. The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency may sell vehicles and property under this subsection to any county or municipal law enforcement agency or any county or municipal entity. Any state department or agency may negotiate for the purchase of the vehicle or property for their use in compliance with state law.

(b) Every proposal to make a sale at public auction shall be advertised for at least two weeks in advance of the date fixed for the auction. Such advertisement shall appear at least once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the sale is to be made, and a copy of such proposal shall simultaneously be posted on a readily accessible public bulletin board at the main office of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency. Advertisements for auctions shall state the item or items to be sold, by class and description, where the property is located and the dates, time, and place the property may be inspected. The advertisements shall further state the date, time, and place of auction. All property advertised under this section shall be available for inspection during normal state office hours, and at whatever place advertised for at least 48 hours prior to sale.

(c) All property sold under this section shall be paid for by the purchaser or his or her representative by cashier's check, bank draft, certified check, U.S. currency, or notarized bank letter stating that the holder may purchase surplus property and also stating a maximum amount, at the time of acceptance of bid and award of contract, and the removal shall be not later than seven days after the awarding of the contract.

(d) No officer or employee of the State of Alabama or any of its departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, institutions, corporations, or agencies shall act as agent for any bidder; provided, however, that such officers or employees shall not be excluded from bidding on or purchasing state property at public sale.

(e) Any sale made in violation of the terms of this section shall be null and void, and the person or persons responsible for the violation shall be subject to liquidated damages of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), which may be recovered for the State of Alabama by the Attorney General by civil action in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County. Any moneys recovered by the Attorney General under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund.

(f) All proceeds from sales made under this article, whether at public auction or by negotiation, shall be paid into the Public Safety Fund in the State Treasury for use by the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, to be earmarked for state troopers.