Travis I can see the confusion as I have always heard it called blow. Rhymes with snow but really would not like to see that all over the road. It is crazy enough when a produce truck turns over. All of the loons would come out of the woodwork. 

That's why I live on the Central Coast of California. No very often we see the white stuff. People drive way to fast in conditions like that. My life is worth much more than the few extra minutes that you save going to fast in bad weather.

Never seen an auction. One guy here that buys lockers sells until the last half hour than blows out everything he has left for a dollar each. Whatever is left when he is done goes to donation and he starts new next week.

We have one here that does that. They require $50.00 to get a bid number. You get to keep your number for 6 months than you have to pay again. You also have to give your drivers license to them for the auction.
These guys have many facilities over in the valley which is at least a two hour drive for me and I never go. They only have one facility here on the coast so my $50.00 is only good for one auction at a time. Not really fond of their auction style either as they pull everything out of the unit and auction it by the piece. It takes all day to sell 10 units. I don't go very often to this one.

I'm hoping this huge storm in Cali has a big effect tomorrow. This is always the best sale for me and they are doing the auction rain, hail or hurricane.

Not so fast... http://www.sfgate.com/business/networth/article/Couple-s-gold-discovery-will-be-taxed-at-top-5271261.php
Of course the government has to get their part!

Does this mean that half of what I make off of a unit should go to the government? I paid for it but it is found treasures. Blurry lines anyone?

How do you handle personal items and what do you consider personal?

I normally take pictures, social security cards and some mementos back to the facility to return to the owner. Most mail gets thrown away. I have taken back a box that was saved baby items though I went through it first. I do take pictures  out of frames if the frames are nice. I feel like if I can make money on the item than I paid for it it is mine to do with what I like.

I know of two occasions that the stuff was given back because the managers made a point to let me know how happy the previous owner was to get their stuff back. It makes me feel like I am doing the right thing.

I have talked to several that say they don't waste their time taking personals back. I was just interested in every ones take on how they deal with this stuff.