Sponsored by:
Senator CARMEN F. AMATO, JR.
District 9 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits enforcement of certain trapping violations in areas subject to law enforcement investigation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning trapping violations, and supplementing Title 23 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Department of Environmental Protection or any other person authorized to enforce the provisions of chapter 4 of Title 23 of the Revised Statutes, or the State Fish and Game Code, shall not issue a violation to a trapping licensee for failure to check a trap within the required time period if the trap is located in an area subject to a law enforcement investigation and the licensee has been instructed by a federal, State, or local law enforcement agent to vacate the area.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection or any other person authorized to enforce provisions of chapter 4 of Title 23 of the Revised Statutes, or the State Fish and Game Code, from issuing a violation to a trapping licensee for failure to check a trap within the required time period if the trap is located in an area subject to a law enforcement investigation and the licensee has been instructed by a federal, State, or local law enforcement agent to vacate the area. Current State Fish and Game Code regulations, at N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.12(i), require that all traps set or in use must be checked, tended, and maintained at least once per calendar day for the trapping of semi-aquatic species in tidal areas, and at least once in every 24 hours for all other trappings.