PRINTER'S NO. 418
No. 388 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY MURPHY, ITKIN, SEVENTY, O'DONNELL, MICHLOVIC, BOOK
AND IRVIS, FEBRUARY 13, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, FEBRUARY 13, 1985
AN ACT
1 Prohibiting steel-jawed leghold type animal traps; and providing
2 a penalty.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Definitions.
6 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
7 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
8 context clearly indicates otherwise:
9 "Steel-jawed leghold trap." A device which consists of a
10 metal ring hinged at the middle, triggered by a pan connected to
11 a spring which, when activated, snaps steel "jaw type"
12 restraining bars tightly together.
13 Section 2. Steel-jawed leghold trap; penalties.
14 (a) Prohibition.--No person shall sell, offer for sale,
15 possess, import or transport an animal trap of the steel-jawed
16 leghold type.
17 (b) Trapping.--No person shall take or attempt to take any
1 animal by means of a trap of the steel-jawed leghold type.
2 (c) Possession.--The possession of a trap of the steel-jawed
3 leghold type shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of
4 subsection (b), except that no person shall be charged with a
5 violation while in the process of surrendering such trap to a
6 law enforcement agency or game commission.
7 (d) Exempt.--Mouse and rat traps designed for use in or
8 under buildings shall not be construed to be steel-jawed leghold
9 traps. Exhibition of steel-jawed leghold traps by nonprofit
10 humane organizations shall be exempt from the provisions of this
11 act.
12 (e) Surrender of traps.--All persons, groups and
13 organizations, except those specifically exempt by this act,
14 shall surrender any steel-jawed leghold traps in their
15 possession to any appropriate law enforcement agency.
16 (f) Penalties.--A person violating this act shall, for each
17 illegal trap, be fined not less than $100 nor more than $250 for
18 a first offense; not less than $250 nor more than $500 for a
19 second offense; and not less than $500 nor more than $2,500, or
20 imprisonment for six months, or both fine and imprisonment, for
21 a third and each subsequent offense.
22 (g) Confiscation.--All equipment, animals and pelts used in
23 or obtained by a violation of this act shall be confiscated by
24 the Pennsylvania Game Commission or any law enforcement agency
25 acting as its agent.
26 Section 3. Effective date.
27 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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