A. A person who has purchased or received or has in his possession any livestock either for himself or another shall exhibit the bill of sale for the livestock at the reasonable request of an inspector or other peace officer. A person who fails to produce the bill of sale required in Section 77-9-21 NMSA 1978 or who is unable to exhibit other written evidence of ownership or legal possession is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.

B. A person who has purchased or received or has in his possession any livestock either for himself or another and who cannot produce proof of ownership as required by Subsection A of this section shall have the livestock impounded. If sufficient proof of ownership has not been established to the satisfaction of the board within fifteen days of the impoundment, the impounded livestock will be handled and disposed of in the same manner as provided for the handling and disposal of estrays.

History: Laws 1884, ch. 47, § 13; C.L. 1884, § 66; C.L. 1897, § 77; Code 1915, § 44; C.S. 1929, § 4-318; 1941 Comp., § 49-921; 1953 Comp., § 47-9-20; Laws 1963, ch. 252, § 1; 1971, ch. 196, § 3; 1975, ch. 139, § 5; 1999, ch. 282, § 51.

The 1999 amendment, effective July 1, 1999, in the last sentence of Subsection A, updated a statutory reference, and added "and shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978" at the end; and made stylistic changes throughout the section.