reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 20-6-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-18 - Sale of scallops during closed season.

§ 20-6-18. Sale of scallops during closed season.Any person offering for sale any scallops, other than during the open season for taking scallops, shall be fined not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) for each quart offered for sale, or be imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both; provided, however, it shall be lawful to possess or offer for sale frozen scallops legally taken.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-6-19 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-19 - Number, size, and handling of dredges.

§ 20-6-19. Number, size, and handling of dredges.Unless otherwise specified by regulation of the marine fisheries council, no person engaged in the taking of scallops shall use more than six (6) single dredges, the blades of which shall not be more than twenty-eight inches (28") in width, and the bag used shall not be more than thirty-six inches (36") in length. Every single dredge shall be towed and hauled aboard the registered boat individually.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-6-20 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-20 - Towing of dredge during closed season.

§ 20-6-20. Towing of dredge during closed season.Any person who tows a scallop dredge in the waters of the state during the season closed to the taking of scallops shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100) or imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both, for each offense.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-6-21 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-21 - Opening shellfish on water.

§ 20-6-21. Opening shellfish on water.No person shall possess the meats of more than six (6) shellfish while shellfishing on the waters of the state or throw the shells of open scallops onto the scallop beds.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1987, ch. 254, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-6-22 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-22 - Transplanting of seed scallops.

§ 20-6-22. Transplanting of seed scallops.The director of environmental management may conduct any scallop transplant programs as may be appropriate to enhance scallop stock, seed depleted areas, and further the scallop harvest in the state.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-6-23 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-23 - Penalty for taking shellfish at night.

§ 20-6-23. Penalty for taking shellfish at night.Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or public law to the contrary, any person who takes any oysters, clams, quahaugs, scallops, or mussels from any of the waters of this state during the hours between sundown and sunrise shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not exceeding three (3) years, or both; and any boat, dredges, rakes, or other equipment used in this violation shall be forfeited to the state.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1988, ch. 166, § 1.
RI Gen L § 20-6-24 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-24 - License for shellfish buyers - Suspension or revocation.

§ 20-6-24. [Repealed.]History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1983, ch. 173, § 3; P.L. 1986, ch. 214, § 3; repealed by P.L. 2021, ch. 162, art. 7, § 7, effective July 6, 2021.
RI Gen L § 20-6-25 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-25 - Disposition of moneys received under this chapter.

§ 20-6-25. Disposition of moneys received under this chapter.All moneys derived from payments received for fishing licenses required under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited with the general treasurer, and the general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum that it deems necessary for the protection, cultivation, research, and management of shellfish; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw orders upon the general treasurer for payment of any sums that may be necessary, from time to time, upon receipt by the controller of duly authenticated vouchers presented by the director of the department of environmental management; provided, however, nothing in this section shall be construed to deprive the licensing agents of their recording fees.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-6-26 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-26 - Transfer of shellfish from uncertified waters.

§ 20-6-26. Transfer of shellfish from uncertified waters.The director of environmental management is authorized and directed, after requiring all necessary safeguards, to transfer shellfish from uncertified waters of the state to approved areas. The director may make rules and regulations governing the reharvest of those shellfish to the best economical benefit of the state after all necessary safeguards to insure their cleanliness.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-6-27 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-27 - Dredging, raking, and tonging.

§ 20-6-27. Dredging, raking, and tonging.Those areas to which the shellfish are transferred shall be marked out and dredging, raking, or tonging on them shall be prohibited except under the special direction of the director.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1988, ch. 166, § 1.
RI Gen L § 20-6-28 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-28 - Cost of transfer of shellfish.

§ 20-6-28. Cost of transfer of shellfish.For the transfer of shellfish pursuant to § 20-6-26, the director is authorized to hire dredge boats or handrakers and to set the rate of payment. Any transferred shellfish may be sold by the director, and the proceeds of that sale retained under the control of the director for the purpose of assisting in the cost of the transfer of shellfish from uncertified waters to approved areas, from time to time, as the transfer becomes necessary or expedient.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1989, ch. 542, § 32; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 42, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 441, § 16.
RI Gen L § 20-6-29 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-29 - Penalty for improper taking of transferred shellfish.

§ 20-6-29. Penalty for improper taking of transferred shellfish.Any person violating rules or regulations promulgated by the director of environmental management as provided for in §§ 20-6-26 — 20-6-28, shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-6-30 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-6 - Shellfish|Section 20-6-30 - Shellfishing prohibitions - Use of SCUBA.

§ 20-6-30. Shellfishing prohibitions — Use of SCUBA.(a) It is hereby prohibited to take shellfish by the use of a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) from Green Hill Pond, Quonochontaug Pond, Charlestown Pond, and Potters Pond.(b) Penalty. Any person convicted of taking shellfish as set forth in subsection (a) shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both.History of Section.P.L. 2001, ch. 412, § 1.
RI Gen L § 20-7-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-1 - License required for taking of lobsters.

§ 20-7-1. License required for taking of lobsters.No person, either as principal, agent, or servant, shall, at any time, catch or take any lobster from any of the waters in the jurisdiction of this state, or place, set, keep, maintain, supervise, lift, raise, or draw in or from any of those waters, or cause to be placed, set, kept, maintained, supervised, lifted, raised, or drawn in or from any of those waters, any pot or other contrivance, designed or adapted for the catching or taking of lobsters, unless licensed to do so.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-7-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-2 - Taking of lobsters by commercial fishing vessels.

§ 20-7-2. Taking of lobsters by commercial fishing vessels.No operator of a Rhode Island-registered boat engaged in trawling for finfish in Rhode Island territorial waters may retain and sell any lobsters taken, unless that operator has a commercial lobster license.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-7-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-3 - Noncommercial lobster licenses.

§ 20-7-3. Noncommercial lobster licenses.A holder of a noncommercial lobster license may set, place, or maintain in the water at any one time not more than five (5) lobster pots or traps. A noncommercial lobster licensee shall not offer for sale or sell lobsters.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-7-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-4 - Diver's lobster license.

§ 20-7-4. Diver's lobster license.A holder of a diver's license shall take no more than eight (8) lobsters in any one day. It shall be unlawful for any diver to use a spear, gig, gaff, or other penetrating device to harvest lobsters or, while diving, to set, open, or tend lobster pots. It shall be unlawful for lobsters taken by divers to be sold or offered for sale.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-7-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-5 - Seller's license.

§ 20-7-5. Seller's license.Any person having charge of a vessel carrying lobsters who lands in the state of Rhode Island and who is not licensed under any of the provisions of this chapter shall be required to have a seller's license. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-7-5.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-5.1 - Lobster dealer's license.

§ 20-7-5.1. [Repealed.]History of Section.P.L. 1992, ch. 133, art. 17, § 5; repealed by P.L. 2021, ch. 162, art. 7, § 8, effective July 6, 2021.
RI Gen L § 20-7-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-6 - Use of license by agent or employee.

§ 20-7-6. Use of license by agent or employee.If any person to whom a seller's or a commercial lobster license is granted becomes incapacitated for any reason from using that license, that person may permit his or her agent or employee, if a citizen or legal resident of the United States, to perform those duties under the license that may be necessary during the period of the licensee's incapacity; provided that the incapacitated licensee has notified the director of environmental management prior to the transfer of those duties.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1996, ch. 164, § 7.
RI Gen L § 20-7-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-7 - Suspension and revocation of licenses.

§ 20-7-7. Suspension and revocation of licenses.(a) If a person licensed under this chapter is convicted of any of the following offenses, his or her license shall be suspended for the following periods:(1) Possession of ten (10) or more undersize lobsters, but not more than nineteen (19), in violation of § 20-7-10, one month;(2) Possession of twenty (20) or more undersize lobsters, in violation of § 20-7-10, one year;(3) Possession of mutilated lobsters or lobster meat, in violation of § 20-7-14, one year;(4) Possession of one or more brushed female berried lobsters, in violation of § 20-7-10, one year;(5) Possession of ten (10) or more egg-bearing female lobsters, in violation of § 20-7-10, one year;(6) Unauthorized raising of another's lobster pots, in violation of § 20-4-8, one year;(7) Use or possession of a lobster pot from which the markings or branded numbers have been removed, altered, or obliterated, in violation of § 20-7-12, one year; and(8) Failure to file reports of lobsters taken, as required by § 20-7-9, one year.(b) Any person whose license is so suspended shall not engage in the lobster fishery of this state during the specified period of suspension. Any person who is convicted of engaging in the lobster fishery during the specified period of suspension shall be fined five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisoned for thirty (30) days, or both. The license of any person convicted a second time of any of the offenses set forth in subsection (a) shall be revoked for three (3) years and the person whose license is revoked shall not engage in the lobster fishery of this state in any way while the revocation is in force, under a penalty of sixty (60) days' imprisonment or a fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both, for each offense.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1987, ch. 254, § 4.
RI Gen L § 20-7-7.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-7.1 - Administrative suspension/revocation of licenses - Penalties - Appeal.

§ 20-7-7.1. Administrative suspension/revocation of licenses — Penalties — Appeal.(a) If a person licensed under this chapter is found, pursuant to § 42-17.1-2, to have violated any of the following offenses, his or her license shall be suspended for the following periods:(1) Possession of ten (10) or more undersize lobsters, but not more than nineteen (19), in violation of § 20-7-10, one month;(2) Possession of twenty (20) or more undersize lobsters, in violation of § 20-7-10, one year;(3) Possession of mutilated lobsters or lobster meat, in violation of § 20-7-14, one year;(4) Possession of one or more brushed female berried lobsters, in violation of § 20-7-10, one year;(5) Possession of ten (10) or more egg-bearing female lobsters, in violation of § 20-7-10, one year;(6) Unauthorized raising of another's lobster pots, in violation of § 20-4-8, one year;(7) Use or possession of a lobster pot from which the markings or branded numbers have been removed, altered, or obliterated, in violation of § 20-7-12, one year; and(8) Failure to file reports of lobsters taken, as required by § 20-7-9, one year.(b) Any person whose license is so suspended shall not engage in the lobster fishery in this state during the specified period of suspension. Any person who is found, pursuant to § 42-17.1-2, to have engaged in the lobster fishery during the specified period of suspension shall pay an administrative penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000).(c) The license of any person found, pursuant to § 42-17.1-2, to have violated any of the offenses set forth in subsection (a) a second time shall be revoked for three (3) years and the person whose license is revoked shall not engage in the lobster fishery of this state in any way while the revocation is in force, and in addition shall pay an administrative penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each violation.(d) In addition to any other sanctions provided by law, any person found, pursuant to § 42-17.1-2, to have violated any of the provisions of this chapter shall pay an administrative penalty of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00), nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), for each lobster taken or possessed in violation of the provisions of this chapter.(e) Any person aggrieved by a final decision under this section may appeal the decision in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42.History of Section.P.L. 1987, ch. 254, § 5.
RI Gen L § 20-7-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-8 - Exhibition of certificate.

§ 20-7-8. Exhibition of certificate.Each person or agent, as defined in § 20-7-1, licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall, upon demand of the director of the department of environmental management or any of the director's deputies, exhibit the license issued to him or her as provided in § 20-7-1. Every person violating the provisions of this section shall, for each offense, be fined up to fifty dollars ($50.00).History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-7-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-9 - Report of lobsters taken.

§ 20-7-9. Report of lobsters taken.For the purpose of determining whether the number of lobsters caught in the waters of this state are increasing or decreasing during any period, every person licensed pursuant to § 20-2-24 to catch, take, and/or sell lobsters in Rhode Island shall, upon request of the department of environmental management, report catch and effort statistics upon forms furnished by the department. The returns from any person shall not be made public; shall be kept only in the files of the department; and shall be used only for statistical purposes.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
RI Gen L § 20-7-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-10 - Minimum size of lobsters taken - Egg-bearing females.

§ 20-7-10. Minimum size of lobsters taken — Egg-bearing females.(a) (1) Unless otherwise specified by regulations adopted by the marine fisheries council, no person shall catch or take from any of the waters within the jurisdiction of this state, or have in his or her possession within this state, any lobster, or parts of lobsters, cooked or uncooked, that is less than three and three sixteenths inches (33/16") measured from the rear of the eye socket along a line parallel to the center line of the body shell to the rear end of the carapace.(2) The minimum size of three and three sixteenths inches (33/16") shall be increased as follows:(i) On January 1, 1988, 1/32" from 33/16" to 37/32";(ii) On January 1, 1989, 1/32" from 37/32" to 31/4";(iii) On January 1, 1991, 1/32" from 31/4" to 39/32";(iv) On January 1, 1992, 1/32" from 39/32" to 35/16".(b) No person shall have in his or her possession within this state any female lobster bearing eggs or from which the eggs have been brushed or removed.(c) In addition to any penalties specified in other sections of this chapter, every person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each lobster in violation of this regulation or be imprisoned not exceeding thirty (30) days, or both. Any person licensed under this chapter catching and taking any lobster as described in subsection (a) or (b), and immediately returning the lobster alive to the water from which it was taken, shall not be subject to these fines or penalties. The possession of any lobster as described in subsection (a) or (b), cooked or uncooked, shall be prima facie evidence that the lobster was caught and taken in violation of this section. Any person convicted a second time of a violation of this section shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500) and be deprived of the privilege of fishing for lobsters within the state for three (3) years, after conviction, under a penalty of sixty (60) days' imprisonment or a fine of five hundred dollars ($500), or both, for each offense.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1983, ch. 107, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 305, § 1.
RI Gen L § 20-7-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-11 - Buoying of pots - Escape vents.

§ 20-7-11. Buoying of pots — Escape vents.(a) Each and every lobster pot, set, kept, or maintained, or caused to be set, kept, or maintained, in any of the waters in the jurisdiction of this state by any person licensed under this chapter, shall contain an escape vent in accordance with the following specifications:(1) A rectangular escape vent with an unobstructed opening not less than 13/4 inches (44.5mm) by 6 inches (152.5mm); or(2) Two (2) circular escape vents with an unobstructed opening not less than 21/4 inches (57.2mm) in diameter; or(3) An unobstructed gap caused by raising both ends of a bottom lath in the parlor section 11/4 inches (44.5mm) from the bottom; or(4) An unobstructed gap caused by separating both ends of two (2) vertical laths on the end of the parlor section by 13/4 inches (44.5mm); or(5) An unobstructed gap created by cutting wires in a wire trap in such a manner as to meet the minimum size and number of vents required under subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2).(b) The vent or gap shall be installed or made in the parlor section on the sides or end panel. No horizontal rectangular vent or gap or circular vent shall be located more than three inches (3") from the sill of the trap. Traps equipped with multiple opposing parlor sections must adhere to the escape vent requirements specified in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) in each parlor section. Any fisher not complying with the provisions of this section or § 20-7-10 shall be fined in compliance with § 20-3-3.(c) The marine fisheries council shall have the power to establish larger escape vent sizes by regulation.(d) Each lobster pot shall be separately and plainly buoyed; except that in cases where natural conditions render it impracticable to separately buoy each pot, the director of environmental management may, upon application from any person licensed under this chapter, grant permission to otherwise buoy those pots subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the director; and each and every permit so granted shall set forth the name of the person to whom the permit is granted; the number of the permit; the place or places where the lobster pots are to be located; the manner in which lobster pots shall be set; and the period of time during which the permit shall extend.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3; P.L. 1988, ch. 305, § 1.
RI Gen L § 20-7-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 20 - Fish and Wildlife|Chapter 20-7 - Lobsters and Other Crustaceans|Section 20-7-12 - Removal of branded numbers from lobster pots.

§ 20-7-12. Removal of branded numbers from lobster pots.No person shall set, maintain, or have in his or her possession any lobster pots from which the branded numbers have been altered, obliterated, or removed with the intent to defraud or deprive the owner. Every person convicted of violating the provision of this section shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100) for each of these traps or be imprisoned not more than thirty (30) days, or both. All pots used or possessed contrary to the provisions of this section and other sections of this chapter shall be seized by any officer engaged in the enforcement of this chapter and that property shall be forfeited.History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.