2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes § 14-419. Investigation of suspected violations; seizure and examination of reptiles; disposition of reptiles.

§ 14‑419.  Investigation of suspected violations; seizure and examination of reptiles; disposition of reptiles.

In any case in which any law‑enforcement officer or animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe that any of the provisions of this Article have been or are about to be violated, it shall be the duty of such officer and he is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to immediately investigate such violation or impending violation and to forthwith seize the reptile or reptiles involved, and all such officers are hereby authorized and directed to deliver such reptiles to the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences or to its designated representative for examination and test for the purpose of ascertaining whether said reptiles contain venom and are poisonous.  If the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences or its designated representative finds that said reptiles are dangerously poisonous, the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences or its designated representative shall be empowered to dispose of said reptiles in a manner consistent with the safety of the public; but if the Museum or its designated representative find that the reptiles are not dangerously poisonous, and are not and cannot be harmful to human life, safety, health or welfare, then it shall be the duty of such officers to return the said reptiles to the person from whom they were seized within five days. (1949, c. 1084, s. 4; 1981, c. 203, s. 1; 1993, c. 561, s. 116(g).)