(a) Any vessel, boat, fishing tackle, guns, shooting and hunting paraphernalia, traps, decoys, or any other implements, appliances, or equipment used in violation of any law, rule, or regulation relating to fish and wildlife, which, by provision of any section of this title, is subject to forfeiture to the state, shall be seized pursuant to § 20-1-8(a)(6) and forfeited under the provisions of this section. (b) The attorney general shall proceed pursuant to §§ 12-21-23--12-21-32, to show cause why the vessel, boat, fishing tackle, guns, shooting and hunting paraphernalia, traps, decoys, or any other implements, appliances, or equipment used in the knowing and willful violation of any law, rule, or regulation relating to fish and wildlife which, by provision of any section of this title, is subject to forfeiture to the state, may be forfeited to the use of or the sale of the department on producing due proof that the vessel, fishing tackle, guns, shooting and hunting paraphernalia, traps, decoys, or any other implements, appliances, or equipment was used in this violation. (c) Whenever property is forfeited under this section and the specific provision of this title requiring forfeiture for a particular offense, the department may: (1) Retain the property for official use; or (2) Sell any forfeited property which is not required by this title to be destroyed and which is not harmful to the public; but the proceeds of this sale, after first deducting the amount sufficient for all proper expenses of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody, and advertising and court costs, shall be paid to the general treasurer for the use of the state.
Citation: 20 R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 20-1-8.1.