Source: https://www.fishwildlife.org/law-research-library/law-categories/endangered-species/endangered-species-enforcement-and-penalties-minnesota
Timestamp: 2019-06-27 02:00:10
Document Index: 235160611

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 84', '§ 97', '§ 84', '§ 84', '§ 97', '§ 97']

Endangered Species - Enforcement and Penalties - Minnesota :: Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Endangered Species - Enforcement and Penalties - Minnesota
...Subd. 2.
(a) Subdivision 1 does not apply to:
(1) plants on land classified for property tax purposes as class 2a or 2c agricultural land under section 273.13, or on ditches and roadways; and
(2) noxious weeds designated pursuant to sections 18.76 to 18.88 or to weeds otherwise designated as troublesome by the Department of Agriculture.
(b) If control of noxious weeds is necessary, it takes priority over the protection of endangered plant species, as long as a reasonable effort is taken to preserve the endangered plant species first.
(c) The taking or killing of an endangered plant species on land adjacent to class 3 or 3b agricultural land as a result of the application of pesticides or other agricultural chemical on the class 3 or 3b land is not a violation of subdivision 1, if reasonable care is taken in the application of the pesticide or other chemical to avoid impact on adjacent lands. For the purpose of this paragraph, class 3 or 3b agricultural land does not include timber land, waste land, or other land for which the owner receives a state paid wetlands or native prairie tax credit.
(d) The accidental taking of an endangered plant, where the existence of the plant is not known at the time of the taking, is not a violation of subdivision 1...
Subd. 6. A peace officer or conservation officer, pursuant to chapter 626, may execute a warrant to search for and seize goods, merchandise, plant or animal taken, sold or offered for sale in violation of this section, or items used in connection with a violation of this section. Seized property must be held pending judicial proceedings. Upon conviction, seized property is forfeited to the state and must be offered to a scientific or educational institution or destroyed...
Subd. 8. This section does not apply retroactively or prohibit importation into this state and subsequent possession, transport, and sale of wild animals, wild plants, or parts of wild animals or plants that are legally imported into the United States or legally acquired and exported from another territory, state, possession, or political subdivision of the United States.
Subd. 9. A violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
Citation: M.S.A. § 84.0895.
The commissioner may pay rewards for information leading to the conviction of a person that has violated a provision of laws relating to wild animals or threatened or endangered species of wildlife. A reward may not exceed $500, except a reward for information relating to big game or threatened or endangered species of wildlife, may be up to $1,000 and a reward for information relating to wolves may be up to $2,500. The rewards may only be paid from funds donated to the commissioner for these purposes and may not be paid to salaried conservation officers or peace officers.
Citation: M.S.A. § 97A.245.
...Subd. 11.
Citation: M.S.A. § 84.66.
An enforcement officer shall enforce a violation of sections 84.0895, 84.091, 84.093, 84.152, and 103G.615 in the same manner as a violation of the game and fish laws.
Citation: M.S.A. § 84.0894.
Subdivision 1. A person who kills, injures, or possesses a wild animal in violation of the game and fish laws is liable to the state for the value of the wild animal as provided in this section. Species afforded protection include members of the following groups as defined by statute or rule: game fish, game birds, big game, small game, fur-bearing animals, minnows, and threatened and endangered animal species. Other animal species may be added by rule of the commissioner as determined after public meetings and notification of the chairs of the environment and natural resources committees in the senate and house of representatives.
(a) An enforcement officer who arrests a person for killing, injuring, or possessing a wild animal in violation of the game and fish laws must describe the number, species, and restitution value of wild animals illegally killed, injured, or possessed on the warrant or the notice to appear in court.
(b) As part of the charge against a person arrested for killing, injuring, or possessing a wild animal in violation of the game and fish laws, the prosecuting attorney must include a demand that restitution be made to the state for the value of the wild animal killed, injured, or possessed. The demand for restitution is in addition to the criminal penalties otherwise provided for the violation.
Subd. 3. If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to killing, injuring, or possessing a wild animal in violation of the game and fish laws, the court must require the person to pay restitution to the state for replacement of the wild animal as part of the sentence or state in writing why restitution was not imposed. The court may consider the economic circumstances of the person and, in lieu of monetary restitution, order the person to perform conservation work representing the amount of restitution that will aid the propagation of wild animals. If the court does not order a person to pay restitution, the court administrator must send a copy of the court order to the commissioner.
Subd. 4. The amount of restitution shall be determined by the court by a preponderance of the evidence. In determining the amount of restitution, the court must consider the value of the wild animal under section 97A.345.
Subd. 5. The court administrator shall forward restitution collected under this section to the commissioner of management and budget and the commissioner shall credit all money forwarded to the game and fish fund in the state treasury.
Citation: M.S.A. § 97A.341.
(a) A person that buys or sells protected wild animals in violation of the game and fish laws where the sales total $300 or more is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. The person is subject to the penalty in section 97A.301, subdivision 2, except that the fine may not be less than $3,000 or more than $10,000.
(b) Licenses possessed by a person convicted under this subdivision are null and void and the person may not take wild animals for three years after the conviction...
Citation: M.S.A. § 97A.325.