Mich. Comp. Laws § 324.40119 — MI Code / Chapter 324 / Act Act-451-of-1994 / Section 324.40119
Reimbursement of state for value of game or protected animal; restitution for illegal killing, possessing, purchasing, or selling antlered white-tailed deer, antlered elk, antlered moose, and turkey with beard; forfeiture; default as civil contempt; additional time for payment; reduction of amount forfeited; revocation of forfeiture; collection of default in payment; disposition of forfeiture damages; "point" defined.
Status: in_force

Sec. 40119.

(1) In addition to the penalties provided for violating this part or an order issued under this part, and the penalty provided in section 36507, an individual convicted of the illegal killing, possessing, purchasing, or selling of game or protected animals, in whole or in part, shall reimburse the state for the value of the game or protected animal as follows:

(a) Elk, $5,000.00 per animal.

(b) Moose, $5,000.00 per animal.

(c) Bear, $3,500.00 per animal.

(d) Eagle, $1,500.00 per animal.

(e) Hawk or any animal that appears on a list specified in section 36505, $1,500.00 per animal.

(f) Deer, owl, and wild turkey, $1,000.00 per animal.

(g) Waterfowl, $500.00 per animal.

(h) Other game not listed in subdivisions (a) to (g), not less than $100.00 or more than $500.00 per animal.

(i) Other protected animals, $100.00 per animal.

(2) In addition to the restitution value established in subsection (1), an individual convicted of the illegal killing, possessing, purchasing, or selling of an antlered white-tailed deer also shall pay an additional restitution value that is equal to $1,000.00 plus 1 of the following:

(a) For an antlered white-tailed deer with at least 8 but not more than 10 points, $500.00 for each point.

(b) For an antlered white-tailed deer with 11 or more points, $750.00 for each point.

(3) In addition to the restitution value established in subsection (1), an individual convicted of the illegal killing, possessing, purchasing, or selling of an antlered elk shall pay an additional restitution value that is equal to 1 of the following:

(a) For an antlered elk with at least 8 but not more than 10 points, $250.00 for each point.

(b) For an antlered elk with 11 or more points, $500.00 for each point.

(4) In addition to the restitution value established in subsection (1), an individual convicted of the illegal killing, possessing, purchasing, or selling of an antlered moose shall pay an additional restitution value that is equal to $5,000.00.

(5) In addition to the restitution value established in subsection (1), an individual convicted of the illegal killing, possessing, purchasing, or selling of a turkey with a beard shall pay an additional restitution value of $1,000.00.

(6) The court in which a conviction for a violation described in subsections (1) to (5) is obtained shall order the defendant to forfeit to the state a sum as set forth in subsections (1) to (5). If 2 or more defendants are convicted of the illegal killing, possessing, purchasing, or selling, in whole or in part, of game or protected animals listed in subsections (1) to (5), the forfeiture prescribed shall be declared against them jointly.

(7) If a defendant fails to pay upon conviction the sum ordered by the court to be forfeited, the court shall either impose a sentence and, as a condition of the sentence, require the defendant to satisfy the forfeiture in the amount prescribed and fix the manner and time of payment, or make a written order permitting the defendant to pay the sum to be forfeited in installments at those times and in those amounts that, in the opinion of the court, the defendant is able to pay.

(8) If a defendant defaults in payment of the sum forfeited or of an installment, the court on motion of the department or upon its own motion may require the defendant to show cause why the default should not be treated as a civil contempt, and the court may issue a summons or warrant of arrest for his or her appearance. Unless the defendant shows that the default was not due to an intentional refusal to obey the order of the court or to a failure to make a good-faith effort to obtain the funds required for the payment, the court shall find that the default constitutes a civil contempt.

(9) If it appears that the defendant's default in the payment of the forfeiture does not constitute civil contempt, the court may enter an order allowing the defendant additional time for payment, reducing the amount of the forfeiture or of each installment, or revoking the forfeiture or the unpaid portion of the forfeiture, in whole or in part.

(10) A default in the payment of the forfeiture or an installment payment may be collected by any means authorized for the enforcement of a judgment under chapter 60 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.6001 to 600.6098.

(11) A court receiving forfeiture damages shall remit the damages to the county treasurer, who shall deposit the damages with the state treasurer, who shall deposit the damages in the game and fish protection account established in section 2010.

(12) As used in this section, "point" means a projection on the antler of a white-tailed deer or elk that is at least 1 inch long as measured from its tip to the nearest edge of the antler beam.

History: Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995; Am. 2004, Act 587, Eff. Dec. 23, 2006; Am. 2013, Act 175, Eff. Feb. 25, 2014; Am. 2015, Act 187, Eff. Feb. 14, 2016