Endangered Species - Enforcement and Penalties - Montana

...(4) Any species or subspecies of fish and wildlife appearing on any of the enumerated lists that is brought into the state from another state or from a point outside the territorial limits of the United States and that is transported across the state destined for a point beyond the state may be brought into the state and transported without restriction in accordance with the terms of any federal permit or permit issued under the laws or regulations of another state...

Citation: MCA 87-5-107.

(1) Any person who violates the provisions of this part or whoever fails to procure or violates the terms of any permit issued thereunder shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(2) Upon a first conviction for a violation under this part, the court may fine the defendant not to exceed $250. Upon a second such conviction, the defendant may be fined not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for any term not to exceed 30 days, or both. Upon subsequent such convictions, the defendant shall be fined not less than $500 or more than $1,000 and in addition may be imprisoned in the county jail for any term not to exceed 6 months.

(3) Any officer employed and authorized by the director or any peace officer of the state or of any municipality or county within the state shall have authority to enforce the provisions of this part.

(4) Wildlife seized under the provisions of this part shall be held by an officer or agent of the department pending disposition of court proceedings and thereafter be forfeited to the state for disposition as the director may deem appropriate. Prior to forfeiture, the director may direct the transfer of wildlife so seized to a qualified zoological, educational, or scientific institution for safekeeping. The department is authorized to issue regulations to implement this subsection.

Citation: MCA 87-5-111.

This part may not be construed to apply retroactively or to prohibit importation into the state of wildlife that are lawfully imported into the United States or lawfully taken or removed from another state or to prohibit entry into the state or possession, transportation, exportation, processing, sale or offer for sale, or shipment of any wildlife whose species or subspecies is determined to be threatened with statewide extinction in this state but not in the state where originally taken, if the person engaging therein demonstrates by substantial evidence that the wildlife was lawfully taken or removed from the state. However, this section may not be construed to permit the possession, transportation, exportation, processing, sale or offer for sale, or shipment within this state of wildlife on the United States' list of endangered native fish and wildlife, as amended and accepted in accordance with 87-5-107(5), except as permitted in the provision by 87-5-107(3) and (4) and 87-5-109(1).

Citation: MCA 87-5-112.

...(5)(a) Any registrant, applicator, dealer, retailer, or other person who commits a major violation of this chapter as defined in subsection (5)(e), in addition to other penalties provided in this chapter, may be assessed a civil penalty by the department of not more than $2,500 for each offense. However, farm applicators possessing a permit may not be assessed a civil penalty over $500 for the first offense. Assessment of a civil penalty may be made in conjunction with any other department warning, order, or administrative action authorized by this chapter.

(b) A civil penalty may not be assessed unless the person charged was given notice and opportunity for a hearing and an appeal pursuant to the Montana Administrative Procedure Act.

(c)

(i) If after investigation the department determines that a major violation of this chapter has significantly harmed human life, welfare, or safety or affected agricultural commodities, livestock, or the environment in a manner that cannot be appropriately addressed by the penalties assessed in subsection (5)(a), the department may seek a civil penalty, not to exceed $25,000 for each offense, by filing a complaint in district court.

(ii) In addition to the civil penalty provided in subsection (5)(c)(i), a person who willfully commits a major violation of this chapter that results in significant harm to human life, welfare, or safety or to agricultural commodities, livestock, or the environment is guilty of a felony and shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $50,000 or be imprisoned in the state prison for not more than 10 years, or both.

(d) In determining an appropriate penalty, the department shall consider the effect on the person's ability to continue in business, the gravity of the violation that occurred, the degree of care exercised by the offender, and whether significant harm resulted to human health, agricultural commodities, livestock, or the environment.

(e) A major violation of this chapter includes:...

(vii) noncompliance with pesticide ground water and environmental protection agency endangered species standards and labeling...

(f) If the department is unable to collect the civil penalty or if a person fails to pay all or a portion of the civil penalty as determined by the department, the department may recover that amount by action in the appropriate district court.

Citation: MCA 80-8-306.

(1) Except as provided in 87-6-907 and in addition to other penalties provided by law, a person convicted or forfeiting bond or bail on a charge of the illegal taking, killing, possession, or waste of a wild bird, mammal, or fish listed in this section shall reimburse the state for each bird, mammal, or fish according to the following schedule:

(a) mountain sheep and endangered species, $2,000...

(2) When a court enters an order declaring bond or bail to be forfeited, the court may also order that some or all of the forfeited bond or bail be paid as restitution to the state according to the schedule in subsection (1). A hearing to determine the amount of restitution, as required under 46-9-512, is not required for an order of restitution under this section.

Citation: MCA 87-6-906.