Current Status Bill Number:602 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19970402 Primary Sponsor:Moore All Sponsors:Moore Drafted Document Number:gjk\20428sd.97 Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Fish, Game and Forestry Committee 07 SFGF Subject:Conservation officer to cause removal of bait on certain baited dove fields, Fish and Game, Natural Resources Department
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
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Senate 19970402 Introduced, read first time, 07 SFGF
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 50-11-15 SO AS TO REQUIRE A WILDLIFE CONSERVATION OFFICER WHO BECOMES AWARE THAT A FIELD HAS BEEN BAITED FOR DOVES TO CAUSE THE OWNER OR PERSON IN POSSESSION THEREOF TO REMOVE THE BAIT, TO PROVIDE THAT THE OWNER OR PERSON IN POSSESSION SHALL PLACE SIGNS IDENTIFYING THE FIELD AS A BAITED FIELD, TO PROVIDE THAT IF THESE PERSONS CANNOT BE LOCATED BY THE OFFICER, THE OFFICER SHALL PLACE SUCH SIGNS, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN VIOLATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT NO CHARGE MAY BE BROUGHT AGAINST ANY PERSON FOR HUNTING DOVES OVER BAIT UNLESS THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 50-11-15. When a wildlife conservation officer is aware or becomes aware that a clearly identifiable area of land or field is baited for doves in such a manner that hunting thereon would be a violation of law, it is the duty of the officer to require the owner or other person having lawful possession or control of the baited area of land or field to remove the bait. The officer also shall require the owner or other person to erect on the area of land or field signs having printed thereon the words: 'No Hunting, Baited Field'. The signs shall remain for ten days after the bait is removed. The printing on the signs must be clearly visible to a person with normal eyesight from a distance of at least fifty yards. A sufficient number of signs must be erected to provide reasonable notice to hunters that the field or area is baited. If the officer cannot locate the owner or other person having lawful possession or control of the baited area of land or field, it is the duty of the officer to erect the signs. An owner or other person having lawful possession or control of a baited area or field who fails to comply with an order of a wildlife conservation officer requiring the removal of bait or the erection of signs, as required by this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished as provided in Section 50-11-10. When a wildlife conservation officer is aware that a clearly identifiable area of land or field is baited in such a manner that hunting thereon is a violation of law, no charge may be brought against a person for hunting over bait at this location unless the provisions of this section have been followed."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.