§56. Seizure or surrender of things illegally used or possessed

A. Any enforcing officer may seize:

(1) Any animal or parts thereof, possessed, transported, sold, offered for sale, or purchased contrary to the provisions of this Title.

(2) Deer, bears, or wild turkey or parts thereof in the possession of any person which is not tagged or identified as required by this Title.

(3) Fish and other aquatic life, taken, possessed, transported, sold, offered for sale, or purchased contrary to the provisions of this Title.

(4) Traps, nets, cages, snares, explosives, guns and other devices placed, set, or otherwise used or possessed for the purpose of taking wild birds or quadrupeds contrary to the provisions of this Title.

(5) Tackle, seines and other nets, trawls, tongs, scrapers, and other equipment and devices used in taking of fish, shrimp, oysters, or other aquatic life contrary to the provisions of this Title.

(6) Oysters, shrimp, and hides and pelts of fur bearing animals and nongame quadrupeds which are subject to a tax imposed by this Title and on which the tax has not been paid or which are taken contrary to the provisions of this Title.

(7) Tackle and scrapers which are possessed or operated in an illegal manner or which are required by the provisions of this Title to be licensed or tagged and which are not so licensed or tagged or which are improperly tagged or which are taken contrary to the provisions of this Title.

(8) Tackle of any type or description, including without limitation such gear listed in R.S. 56:302, 302.5, or 305, which is used by a fisherman to take shrimp, oysters, fish, or other seafood for sale without possessing a commercial fisherman's license.

B. Any live animal which is illegal to possess or which may be possessed only by permit or license from the department may be voluntarily surrendered to the department without penalty. The person surrendering the animal shall be immune from prosecution for illegally possessing or possessing without a permit or license provided the surrendering of the animal is initiated prior to any independent investigation or contact by any public employee operating in their official capacity. The department may dispose of a surrendered animal in any manner the department deems appropriate.

Acts 1981, No. 837, §1. Acts 1985, No. 876, §3, eff. July 23, 1985; Acts 1991, No. 888, §1, eff. July 23, 1991; Acts 2010, No. 157, §1; Acts 2016, No. 133, §1.