An Act To Make Lobster Trap Molesting a Civil Offense
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6434, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2003, c. 520, §5, is further amended to read:
4. Penalty. If the holder of a lobster and crab fishing license violates this section by cutting a lobster trap line, the court shall:
A. Order that person to pay to the owner of the trap line that was cut an amount equal to twice the replacement value of all traps lost as a result of that cutting; and
B. Direct that person to provide proof of payment of that restitution to the commissioner as required by section 6402, subsection 1.
A penalty imposed under this subsection is in addition to any a civil penalty imposed under section 6204 and is recoverable in a civil court.
summary
This bill decriminalizes the offense of molesting a lobster trap and makes it a civil offense.