In a ceremony
Monday, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed House Enrolled Act 1545, legislation
co-authored by State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage, that would make it
illegal for a person to transport a hunter or fisherman onto private
property without the landowner’s permission.
HEA 1545,
officially signed into law on April 17, makes the transgression a Class A
Misdemeanor.
“We’ve seen this
situation in rural areas all over the state,” said Moseley. “A person
accepts payment as a hunting or fishing guide, and then he takes his client
onto private property, usually a farm, without permission of the landowner.
“The trespassing to
hunt is not only wrong, but potentially dangerous for the family on that
farm because they would not know that live ammunition is being used on their
land,” he added. “A stray bullet hitting an innocent person is a tragedy
that can be prevented and this new law will carry stiff penalties for anyone
violating it.”
A Class A
Misdemeanor carries a maximum fine of $5,000 and is punishable by up to one
year in jail.
The penalties are
increased if valuable resources are taken from the property.
The providing of
guide services to take, acquire, receive, transport, or possess wild
animals, protected by law and valued at less than $500, is a Class C
Misdemeanor.
Likewise, if a
person knowingly sells or ships wild animals, nests or eggs, valued at less
than $500, he has committed a Class C Misdemeanor.
If the animal or
animal product is valued at more than $500 but less than $5,000, the offense
is a Level 6 Felony.
If the market value
of the animal or the animal product is greater than $5,000, then a Level 5
Felony has been committed.
Moseley worked
closely with State Rep. Tom Saunders, R-Lewisville, to successfully pass the
bill during the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly.