97A.201 ENFORCEMENT. Subdivision 1. Enforcement by commissioner. The commissioner shall execute and enforce the laws relating to wild animals. The commissioner may delegate execution and enforcement of the wild animal laws to the director and enforcement officers. Subd. 2. Duty of peace officers. All peace officers must enforce the game and fish laws. Subd. 3. […]
97A.205 ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; POWERS. (a) An enforcement officer is authorized to: (1) execute and serve court issued warrants and processes relating to wild animals, wild rice, public waters, water pollution, conservation, and use of water, in the same manner as a sheriff; (2) enter any land to carry out the duties and functions of the […]
97A.211 ARREST PROCEDURES. Subdivision 1. Notice to appear in court. (a) A person must be given notice to appear in court for a misdemeanor violation of the game and fish laws; chapter 84, 84D, 103E, or 103G; sections 103F.201 to 103F.221; or section 103F.601 or 609.68 if: (1) the person is arrested and is released […]
97A.215 INSPECTIONS. Subdivision 1. Storing wild animals. (a) When an enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that wild animals possessed or stored in violation of the game and fish laws are present, the enforcement officer may enter and inspect any commercial cold storage warehouse, hotel, restaurant, ice house, locker plant, butcher shop, and other […]
97A.221 SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY. Subdivision 1. Property subject to seizure and confiscation. (a) An enforcement officer may seize: (1) wild animals, wild rice, and other aquatic vegetation taken, bought, sold, transported, or possessed in violation of the game and fish laws or chapter 84 or 84D; and (2) firearms, bows and arrows, nets, […]
97A.223 SEIZURE AND ADMINISTRATIVE FORFEITURE OF CERTAIN FIREARMS AND ABANDONED PROPERTY. Subdivision 1. Property subject to seizure and forfeiture. (a) An enforcement officer must seize: (1) firearms possessed in violation of state or federal law or court order; and (2) property described in section 97A.221, subdivision 1, where no owner can be determined. (b) Property […]
97A.225 SEIZURE AND CONFISCATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND BOATS. Subdivision 1. Seizure. (a) An enforcement officer must seize all motor vehicles used to: (1) shine wild animals in violation of section 97B.081, subdivision 1; (2) transport big game animals illegally taken or fur-bearing animals illegally purchased; or (3) transport minnows in violation of section 97C.501, […]
97A.231 SEARCH WARRANTS. Upon complaint establishing that the complainant has probable cause to believe that a wild animal taken, bought, sold, transported, or possessed in violation of the game and fish laws, or contraband, is concealed or illegally kept in a place, a judge, authorized to issue warrants in criminal cases, may issue a search […]
97A.235 JURISDICTION OVER BOUNDARY WATERS. Courts in counties having jurisdiction adjacent to boundary waters and enforcement officers have jurisdiction over the entire boundary waters. The courts and enforcement officers of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan have concurrent jurisdiction over boundary waters. History: 1986 c 386 art 1 s 40
97A.241 RECIPROCITY WITH OTHER STATES IN APPOINTING OFFICERS. Subdivision 1. Officers of other jurisdictions as special conservation officers. With approval of the proper authority of another state or the United States, the commissioner may appoint any salaried and bonded officer of that jurisdiction authorized to enforce its wild animal laws a special conservation officer of […]
97A.245 REWARDS. The commissioner may pay rewards for information leading to the conviction of a person that has violated a provision of laws relating to wild animals or threatened or endangered species of wildlife. A reward may not exceed $500, except a reward for information relating to big game or threatened or endangered species of […]
97A.251 OBSTRUCTING OFFICERS. Subdivision 1. Unlawful conduct. A person may not: (1) intentionally hinder, resist, or obstruct an enforcement officer, agent, or employee of the division in the performance of official duties; (2) refuse to submit to inspection of equipment used to take wild animals while in the field, licenses, or wild animals; or (3) […]
97A.255 PROSECUTIONS. Subdivision 1. Statute of limitations. A prosecution under the game and fish laws may not be brought more than three years after commission of the offense. Subd. 2. Burden of proof. (a) In a prosecution that alleges animals have been taken, bought, sold, transported, or possessed in violation of the game and fish […]
