Proctor DWI chair back on the auction block

PROCTOR -  The famous - or infamous - motorized chair seized after a drunken-driving arrest in Proctor is making another appearance on the auction block

The Proctor Police Department is no longer in possession of the chair, but it's not yet sold.

The motorized recliner has two failed eBay auctions on its record. Bidding in the first auction reached $40,000, but the chair was pulled over a La-Z–Boy trademark dispute. The second auction finished at $10,000, but the winning bidder backed out.

Now – finally – the chair that has been the butt of so many jokes may have a new one sitting in it.

"It feels good," Proctor Police Chief Walter Wobig said.

The chair is in the hands of a Northland auction house; they took possession of it Thursday. Months after the first auction, the chair is still on the minds of news agencies.

"I have individuals that have called me yet from Texas, California, that are still wanting to know when this vehicle goes up for bid," Wobig said.

That should be in the next 7 to 14 days, according to Iron Range-based Oberfoell Auctioneers.  They run www.do-bid.com, where the chair will be featured.  They're confident it will sell - but they can't guarantee a price.

"If we do our marketing campaign right and we get 10 to 15 people bidding on a specific item, it's going to go for what it's worth," says Oberfoell sales manager Bart Kyte.

And that's just fine by Chief Wobig.

"Someone's going to be a proud owner of this motorized chair... hopefully within in the week - and best wishes to them," he said.

The Proctor Police Department will take most of the proceeds from the sale.  Oberfoell Auctioneers will take a percentage.