Whenever any livestock are driven or transported into the state without obtaining a certificate of health or permit by the person in charge thereof, in any case where a certificate or permit is required and if such livestock have been inspected and an investigation had in relation thereto and the certificate or permit refused, then the livestock may be seized and securely held in quarantine under such reasonable rules and regulations as shall be prescribed therefor by the board and as they may deem necessary to guard against other livestock becoming affected with any such livestock diseases. They shall be held in quarantine for such length of time as the board shall in their opinion deem necessary for the sanitary protection of livestock in this state. If such livestock shall not have been so inspected and an investigation had, then the same shall take place wherever the livestock may be found, and they may be seized and held for that purpose and a certificate of health or permit granted or refused, as the case may require. If refused, the livestock may in like manner be held in quarantine. All the necessary expenses of quarantine and inspection under the provisions of this section shall be paid by the owners of the livestock.

History: Laws 1889, ch. 106, § 14; C.L. 1897, § 194; Code 1915, § 91; C.S. 1929, § 4-908; 1941 Comp., § 49-315; 1953 Comp., § 47-3-17; Laws 1993, ch. 248, § 31.

The 1993 amendment, effective June 18, 1993, added the current catchline; substituted "livestock" for "cattle" throughout the section; and made minor stylistic changes.

Cattle shipped by rail deemed subject to inspection. — Cattle offered for shipment by rail in New Mexico, although driven into the state from old Mexico, are subject to inspection. 1913 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 13-1087.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 4 Am. Jur. 2d Animals § 52.