Chapter 357

2011 -- S 0972

Enacted 07/13/11

A N A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE - VIOLATIONS

Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Sosnowski, Walaska, and Lynch

Date Introduced: May 12, 2011

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 20-1-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-1 entitled "General

Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

20-1-16. Penalty for violations. – (a) Unless otherwise specifically provided, the

violation of any law or rule or regulation relating to wild animals, wild birds, lobsters and fish,

marine, freshwater and anadromous fisheries and shellfisheries shall be a misdemeanor,

punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment for up to

ninety (90) days, or both.

(b) Striped bass penalties. Any person, firm or corporation shall be fined in accordance

with the following schedule:

(1) First offense. Upon conviction, not less than one hundred dollars ($100) for each

striped bass taken, possessed, sold or possessed and/or offered for sale and imprisonment for up

to ninety (90) days or both.

(2) Second offense. Upon conviction, not less than two hundred dollars ($200) for each

striped bass taken, possessed, sold or possessed, and/or offered for sale and imprisonment for up

to ninety (90) days, or both; and any boat, fishing tackle or other implements used in violation

shall be subject to forfeiture to the state.

(3) Third and subsequent offences. Upon conviction, not less than five hundred dollars

($500) for each striped bass taken, possessed, sold or possessed and/or offered for sale and

imprisonment for up to ninety (90) days, or both; and any boat, fishing tackle or other implements

used in this violation shall be subject to forfeiture to the state.

SECTION 2. Section 20-4-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-4 entitled "Commercial

Fisheries" is hereby repealed.

20-4-11. Striped bass violations -- Penalties. -- Any person, firm, or corporation shall

be fined not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for each striped bass taken, possessed, sold,

possessed for sale, or offered for sale in violation of the provisions of this chapter. In addition to

the fine, the fish trap license of the person, firm, or corporation violating the second provision of

section20-4-12 of this chapter shall be suspended for a period of one year.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02504

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