Chapter 07-106

Chapter 106

2007 -- S 0894

Enacted 06/27/07

A N A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- POWERS OF CONSERVATION OFFICERS

Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Ruggerio, Breene, Felag, and Moura

Date Introduced: March 22, 2007

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 20-1-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 20-1 entitled "General

Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:

20-1-8. Enforcement powers of director and conservation officers. -- (a) The director,

and each conservation officer, shall have the power:

(1) To enforce all laws, rules, and regulations of this state pertaining to:

(i) Fish, wildlife, and all vertebrates, invertebrates and plants;

(ii) Fresh water wetlands, dams, and resources;

(iii) Areas and activities subject to the jurisdiction of the coastal resources management

council;

(iv) State parks, reservations, management areas, hatcheries, and game preserves, and any

law of the state within state parks, reservations, management areas, and game preserves;

(v) Solid and hazardous waste transportation, storage, and disposal and any other laws of

the state regarding solid and/or hazardous wastes;

(vi) Boating safety, water safety, and drowning prevention;

(vii) Water and air pollution and open burning;

(viii) Firearms;

(ix) Littering;

(x) Trees and forests, forestry, and protection of forests from fire hazards and trespass;

and

(xi) Agriculture, farmland, and pest control;

(xii) All-terrain vehicles, as defined in subsection 31-3.2-1(8).

(2) To issue summonses and to execute all warrants and search warrants for the violation

of the laws, rules, and regulations enumerated in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(9);

(3) To serve subpoenas issued for the trial or hearing of all offenses against the law,

rules, and regulations enumerated in subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(9);

(4) To arrest without a warrant any person found violating any law, rule, or regulation

enumerated in subdivision (a)(1), take that person before a court of competent jurisdiction, and

detain that person in custody at the expense of the state until arraignment, except when a

summons can be issued in accordance with section 12-7-11;

(5) To seize and take possession of all fish, shellfish, crustaceans, marine mammals,

amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals in possession or under control of any person or which

have been shipped or are about to be shipped, at any time, in any manner, or for any purpose

contrary to the laws of this state, and dispose of them at the discretion of the director;

(6) To seize all fishing tackle, firearms, shooting and hunting paraphernalia, hunting,

fishing, or trapping licenses, traps, decoys, tongs, bullrakes, dredges, or other implements or

appliances used in violation of any law, rule, or regulation relating to fish, shellfish, crustaceans,

marine mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals; or any equipment, materials, tools,

implements, samples of substances, or any other item used in the violation of any other law, rule,

or regulation enumerated in subdivision (a)(9), when making an arrest as found in the execution

of a search warrant, and hold the seized item or items at the owner's expense until the fine and

costs imposed for the violation have been paid in full;

(7) (i) To go on board any boat or vessel engaged or believed to be engaged in fishing

and examine any fishing, shellfish, scallop, lobster, multipurpose, or other license issued under

this title;

(ii) To go on board any boat or vessel engaged or believed to be engaged in fishing and to

inspect that boat or vessel for compliance with the provisions of this title and any rules relative to

the taking of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, marine mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. In the

absence of probable cause to believe that a crime relative to the taking of these marine species has

been, or is being, committed, any evidence obtained as the result of a boarding (other than for the

purpose of examining a license) or of an inspection may not be used in a criminal prosecution;

(8) To carry firearms or other weapons, concealed or otherwise, in the course of and in

performance of the duties of office; and

(9) To arrest without a warrant, to execute all warrants and search warrants, and to make

and execute complaints within any district to the justice or clerk of the district court without

recognizance or surety against any person for the following criminal offenses:

(i) Assault;

(ii) Assault with a dangerous weapon;

(iii) Larceny;

(iv) Vandalism;

(v) Obstructing officer in execution of duty.

(b) Conservation officers shall be deemed "officer" within the meaning of section 11-32-1.

($500) or imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or both, for any person to refuse to

move or to stop on an oral command or order of a conservation officer, when the officer is acting

in the performance of the officer's duties.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02518

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