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H.B. 41

             1     

TRESPASS ACROSS CULTIVATED LAND

             2     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Craig W. Buttars

             5      AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE RESOURCES; PROHIBITING TRESPASSING WHILE
             6      HUNTING ON CULTIVATED LAND.
             7      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             8      AMENDS:
             9          23-20-14, as last amended by Chapter 201, Laws of Utah 1999
             10      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             11          Section 1. Section 23-20-14 is amended to read:
             12           23-20-14. Definitions -- Posted property -- Hunting by permission -- Entry on private
             13      land while hunting or fishing -- Violations -- Penalty -- Prohibitions inapplicable to officers
             14      -- Promotion of respect for private property.
             15          (1) As used in this section:
             16          (a) "Division" means the Division of Wildlife Resources.
             17          (b) "Cultivated land" means:
             18          (i) land whose soil is loosened or broken up for the raising of crops;
             19          (ii) land used for the raising of crops; or
             20          (iii) pasturage which is artificially irrigated.
             21          [(b)] (c) "Permission" means written authorization from the owner or person in charge to
             22      enter upon private land that is either cultivated or properly posted, and must include:
             23          (i) the signature of the owner or person in charge;
             24          (ii) the name of the person being given permission;
             25          (iii) the appropriate dates; and
             26          (iv) a general description of the property.
             27          [(c)] (d) "Properly posted" means that "No Trespassing" signs or a minimum of 100 square


             28      inches of bright yellow, bright orange, or fluorescent paint are displayed at all corners, fishing
             29      streams crossing property lines, roads, gates, and rights-of-way entering the land. If metal fence
             30      posts are used, the entire exterior side must be painted.
             31          (2) (a) While taking wildlife or engaging in wildlife related activities, a person may not:
             32          (i) without the permission of the owner or person in charge, enter upon privately owned
             33      [and properly posted] land [of any other person, firm, or corporation] that is cultivated or properly
             34      posted;
             35          (ii) refuse to immediately leave the private land if requested to do so by the owner or
             36      person in charge; or
             37          (iii) obstruct any entrance or exit to private property.
             38          (b) "Hunting by permission cards" will be provided to landowners by the division upon
             39      request.
             40          (c) A person may not post:
             41          (i) private property he does not own or legally control; or
             42          (ii) land that is open to the public as provided by Section 23-21-4 .
             43          (3) (a) A person convicted of violating any provision of Subsection (2) may have his
             44      license, tag, certificate of registration, or permit, relating to the activity engaged in at the time of
             45      the violation, revoked by a hearing officer.
             46          (b) A hearing officer may construe any subsequent conviction which occurs within a
             47      five-year period as a flagrant violation and may prohibit the person from obtaining a new license,
             48      tag, certificate of registration, or permit for a period of up to five years.
             49          (4) Subsection (2)(a) does not apply to peace or conservation officers in the performance
             50      of their duties.
             51          (5) (a) The division shall provide information regarding owners' rights and sportsmen's
             52      duties:
             53          (i) to anyone holding licenses, certificates of registration, tags, or permits to take wildlife;
             54      and
             55          (ii) by using the public media and other sources.
             56          (b) The restrictions in this section relating to trespassing shall be stated in all hunting and
             57      fishing proclamations issued by the Wildlife Board.
             58          (6) Any person who violates any provision of Subsection (2) is guilty of a class B


             59      misdemeanor.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 12-28-99 4:25 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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