AB409: Bill Text

AB409,6,10 29.921 (5) Additional arrest powers. In addition to the arrest powers under sub. subs. (1) and (4m), a warden who has completed a program of law enforcement training approved by the law enforcement standards board, has been certified as qualified to be a law enforcement officer under s. 165.85 (4) (b) 1. and has complied with any applicable requirements under s. 165.85 (4) (bn) 1. while on duty and in uniform or on duty and upon display of proper credentials may assist another law enforcement agency as defined under s. 165.83 (1) (b) including making an arrest at the request of the agency, may arrest a person pursuant to an arrest warrant concerning the commission of a felony or may arrest a person who has committed a crime in the presence of the warden. If the warden makes an arrest without the presence of another law enforcement agency, the warden shall cause the person arrested to be delivered to the chief of police or sheriff in the jurisdiction where the arrest is made, along with the documents and reports pertaining to the arrest. The warden shall be available as a witness for the state. A warden may not conduct investigations for violations of state law except as authorized in ss. 23.11 (4), 29.924 (1) and 41.41 (12). A warden acting under the authority of this subsection is considered an employee of the department and is subject to its direction, benefits and legal protection. The authority granted in this section does not apply to county conservation wardens or special conservation wardens.

AB409, s. 9 Section 9. 29.924 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,6,16 29.924 (1) Investigations. The department and its wardens shall, upon Upon receiving notice or information of the violation of any of the laws cited ins. for which the department and its wardens have enforcement authority under s. 29.921 (1), to (4m), the department and its wardens shall as soon as possible make a thorough investigation and institute proceedings if the evidence warrants it.

AB409, s. 10 Section 10. 29.924 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,7,3 29.924 (2) Driving without headlights. In the performance of their law enforcement duties, wardens may operate motor vehicles owned or leased by the department upon a highway, other than an interstate, a state trunk highway or any highway within the limits of any incorporated area, during hours of darkness without lighted headlamps, tail lamps or clearance lamps, contrary to s. 347.06, if the driving will aid in the accomplishment of a lawful arrest for violation of this chapter any of the laws for which the department and its wardens have enforcement authority under s. 29.921 (1) to (4m) or in ascertaining whether a violation of this chapter these laws has been or is about to be committed. Any civil action or proceeding brought against any warden operating a motor vehicle under this subsection is subject to ss. 893.82 and 895.46.

AB409, s. 11 Section 11. 29.924 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,7,12 29.924 (3) Opening packages. The department and its wardens may examine and open any package in the possession of a common carrier which they have probable cause to believe contains wild animals, or carcasses, in violation of this chapter, or carcasses, any of the laws for which the department and its wardens have enforcement authority under s. 29.921 (1) to (4m), or is falsely labeled in violation of this chapter these laws. Each common carrier and its agent or employee shall permit the officer to examine and open the package. Any opened package shall be restored to its original condition.

AB409, s. 12 Section 12. 29.924 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,7,22 29.924 (4) Access to storage places. The owner or occupant of any cold-storage warehouse or building used for the storage or retention of wild animals, or their carcasses, that are subject to regulation under this chapter any of the laws for which the department and its wardens have enforcement authority under s. 29.921 (1) to (4m) shall permit the department and its wardens to enter and examine the premises subject to s. 66.0119. The owner or occupant, or the agent or employee of the owner or occupant, shall deliver to the officer any such wild animal or carcass, in his or her possession during the closed season, whether taken within or without the state

AB409, s. 13 Section 13. 29.931 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,8,7 29.931 (1) Seizure and confiscation of wild animals or plants. The department and its wardens shall seize and confiscate any wild animal, carcass or plant caught, killed, taken, had in possession or under control, sold or transported in violation of this chapter or ch. 169 any of the laws for which the department and its wardens have enforcement authority under s. 29.921 (1) to (4m). The officer may, with or without warrant, open, enter and examine all buildings, camps, boats on inland or outlying waters, vehicles, valises, packages and other places where the officer has probable cause to believe that wild animals, carcasses or plants, taken or held in violation of this chapter or ch. 169 these laws, are to be found.

AB409, s. 14 Section 14. 29.931 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,8,25 29.931 (2) (a) The department and its wardens shall seize and hold, subject to the order of the court for the county in which the alleged offense was committed, any vehicle, boat or object declared by this chapter to be a public nuisance, or which they have probable cause to believe is being used in violation of this chapter or ch. 169 or s. 167.31, 287.81, 940.24, 941.20, 948.60, 948.605 or 948.61, is being used in the commission of a crime involving an animal normally found in the wild in violation of s. 951.09, or is being used in the commission of a crime relating to a submerged cultural resource in violation of s. 44.47 any of the laws for which the department and its wardens have enforcement authority under s. 29.921 (1) to (4m). If it is proven that the vehicle, boat or object is a public nuisance or that within 6 months previous to the seizure the vehicle, boat or object was used in violation of this chapter or ch. 169 or s. 167.31, 287.81, 940.24, 941.20, 948.60, 948.605 or 948.61, was used in the commission of a crime involving an animal normally found in the wild in violation of s. 951.09, or was used in the commission of a crime relating to a submerged cultural resource in violation of s. 44.47 any of the laws for which the department and its wardens have enforcement authority under s. 29.921 (1) to (4m), it shall be confiscated if the court directs in its order for judgment.

AB409, s. 15 Section 15. 29.931 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,9,4 29.931 (2) (b) Any perishable property seized by the department or its wardens under this section may be sold at the highest available price, and the proceeds of the sale turned into court for disposition as the court directs.

AB409, s. 16 Section 16. 29.934 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,9,18 29.934 (1) (a) All wild animals, carcasses or, plants, vehicles, boats, or objects that are not destroyed as authorized by law and that are confiscated by the department for a violation of this chapter or ch. 169 and all vehicles, boats or objects confiscated by the department for a violation of this chapter or ch. 169 shall, if not destroyed as authorized by law, any of the laws for which the department and its wardens have enforcement authority under s. 29.921 (1) to (4m), shall be sold at the highest price obtainable, except as provided in s. 29.936, by the department, or by an agent on commission under supervision of the department. The net proceeds of sales under this subsection, after deducting the expense of seizure and sale and any commissions and any amounts owing to holders of security interests under par. (c) or (d), shall be remitted to the department. The remittance shall be accompanied by a report of the sales, supported by vouchers for expenses and commissions, and shall be filed with the department.

AB409, s. 17 Section 17. 29.934 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,9,24 29.934 (2) On any sales under this section of wild animals or carcasses, the department or the agent selling them shall issue to each purchaser a certificate, on forms prepared and furnished by the department, covering the sales. The wild animals or carcasses so purchased shall be consumed, resold, or otherwise disposed of by the purchaser within a period to be set by the department, but may not be resold or exchanged, in whole or in part, to any other person, except as provided in sub. (3) or as authorized by the department.

AB409, s. 18 Section 18. 350.10 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB409,10,8 350.10 (1) (f) On the private property of another without the consent of the owner or lessee. Failure to post private such property does not imply consent for snowmobile use. Any other motor-driven craft or vehicle principally manufactured for off-highway use shall at all times have the consent of the owner before operation of such craft or vehicle on private lands of another.

AB409, s. 19 Section 19. 814.75 (17m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB409,10,10 814.75 (17m) The natural resources trespass surcharge.

AB409, s. 20 Section 20. 814.77 (10m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB409,10,12 814.77 (10m) The natural resources trespass surcharge under s. 23.86.

AB409, s. 21 Section 21. 814.80 (13m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB409,10,14 814.80 (13m) The natural resources trespass surcharge.

AB409, s. 22 Section 22. 943.13 (3g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB409,10,18 943.13 (3g) (a) The department of natural resources may follow the procedures for the issuance of a citation under ss. 23.50 to 23.99 to collect a forfeiture for a violation of this section pursuant to s. 29.921 (4m).

AB409,10,24 (b) If a person is convicted of a violation of this section while engaged in an activity regulated under ch. 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 169, or 350, the court may revoke or suspend any or all approvals and privileges granted to the person under ch. 29, and may revoke or suspend any or all licenses and privileges granted to the person under ch. 169 that relate to hunting or trapping, for a period of not more than 3 years from the date of conviction.

AB409,11,4 (c) If a person is convicted of a violation of this section while engaged in an activity regulated under ch. 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 169, or 350 and the person has been convicted of a crime while engaged in such activity arising from the same incident or occurrence, the court shall do all of the following:

AB409,11,7 1. Revoke all approvals and privileges granted to the person under ch. 29 and revoke all licenses and privileges granted to the person under ch. 169 that relate to hunting or trapping.

AB409,11,10 2. Prohibit the issuance to the person of any approvals under ch. 29, and the issuance to the person of any licenses under ch. 169 that relate to hunting or trapping, for a period of 5 years from the date of conviction.

AB409,11,11 (End)