2012 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 12: CONSERVATION
Chapter 931: TAXIDERMISTS AND HIDE DEALERS
12 §12954. Hide dealer's license

Part 13: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE HEADING: PL 2003, C. 414, PT. A, §2 (NEW); PT. D, §7 (AFF); C. 614, §9 (AFF)

Subpart 5: GUIDES, OUTFITTERS AND TAXIDERMISTS HEADING: PL 2003, C. 414, PT. A, §2 (NEW); PT. D, §7 (AFF); C. 614, §9 (AFF)

§12954. Hide dealer's license

1. License required. Except as provided in subsection 6 and section 12955, a person may not engage in any activity for which a hide dealer's license may be issued under subsection 2 without a valid hide dealer's license.

Each day a person violates this subsection, that person commits a Class E crime for which a minimum fine of $50 and an amount equal to twice the applicable license fee must be imposed.

[ 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF) .]

2. Issuance. The commissioner may issue a hide dealer's license permitting a person to commercially:

A. Buy, sell, barter, take in trade or take in exchange for any services rendered any raw, untanned wild animal hide or head or the gall bladder from any bear; and [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

B. Aid or assist another in buying, selling or bartering raw, untanned hides or heads of wild animals or bear gall bladders. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

[ 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF) .]

3. Expiration. All licenses issued under this section are valid for one year commencing July 1st of each year.

[ 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF) .]

4. Fee. The annual fees for hide dealer licenses are:

A. For a resident hide dealer, $60; and [2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §36 (AMD).]

B. For a nonresident hide dealer, $110. [2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §36 (AMD).]

[ 2005, c. 12, Pt. III, §36 (AMD) .]

4-A. Record-keeping requirements. The following provisions apply to the keeping and filing of records.

A. A licensee shall:

(1) Keep a true and complete record, in such form as is required by the commissioner, of all heads, hides and bear gall bladders purchased; and

(2) File that record with the commissioner on or before June 30th of each year. [2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §348 (NEW); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]

B. The following penalties apply to violations of this subsection.

(1) A person who violates this subsection commits a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.

(2) A person who violates this subsection after having been adjudicated as having committed 3 or more civil violations under this Part within the previous 5-year period commits a Class E crime.

Each day a person violates this subsection is a separate offense. [2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §348 (NEW); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF).]

[ 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §348 (NEW); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF) .]

5. Record inspection. Records retained under subsection 4-A must be open for inspection by the commissioner or the commissioner's agent.

[ 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §349 (RPR); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF) .]

6. Exception. The following are exceptions to the license requirements set forth in this section.

A. A person who lawfully possesses a deer, moose or bear or lawfully possesses a fur-bearing animal may sell, without a license, the hide, head or gall bladder of that animal. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

B. An employee of a licensed hide dealer may, without a license, aid or assist the licensee in conducting business, but only at the licensee's fixed place of business. [2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF).]

[ 2003, c. 414, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF) .]

7. Licensing violation.

[ 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §350 (RP); 2003, c. 655, Pt. B, §422 (AFF) .]

SECTION HISTORY

2003, c. 414, §A2 (NEW). 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). 2003, c. 655, §§B348-350 (AMD). 2003, c. 655, §B422 (AFF). 2005, c. 12, §III36 (AMD).