§670j Enforcement Provisions

Summary

People who hunt, trap, or fish on public lands in this conservation program must carry a valid public land management area stamp when one is required. If they do not, they can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to six months, or both. Knowingly breaking certain program rules can bring a fine up to $500, jail up to six months, or both. The Interior and Agriculture Secretaries can pick federal employees and authorized state officers to enforce these rules. Those people may carry guns, serve warrants, arrest someone without a warrant for a misdemeanor they reasonably see, and, when allowed by law, search and seize evidence. A magistrate or other proper court can issue arrest process based on sworn information. Cases can be tried and sentenced by magistrate judges under the same federal rules that apply to magistrate judges. Gear, boats, vehicles, and other items used in the offense can be seized and forfeited to the United States and added as a penalty after conviction. Customs laws about seizing and selling vessels apply when they fit and do not conflict, and powers given to Treasury officers for those customs laws are exercised by the Interior or Agriculture Secretary or their designee for these cases.