Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §6431, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1977, c. 661, §5, is amended to read:

7. Penalty. Possession of lobsters in violation of this section shall be is a Class D crime, except that the court shall impose a fine of $25 $50 for each violation and, in addition, a fine of $10 $25 for each lobster involved, up to and including the first 5, and a fine of $30 $50 for each lobster in excess of 5, or, if the number of lobsters cannot be determined, a fine of not more than $1,000.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §6432, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 413, §1, is amended to read:

5. Penalty for possession. Possession of lobsters other than caught by the method specified in subsection 1 is a Class D crime, except that in addition to any punishment that may be imposed under Title 17-A, Part 3, the court shall impose a fine of $25 $50 for each violation and, in addition, a fine of $30 $50 for each lobster involved.

Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6436, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 433, §9, is amended to read:

5. Penalty. Possession of lobsters in violation of this section is a Class D crime, except that in addition to any punishment which that may be imposed under Title 17-A, Part 3, the court shall impose a fine of $25 $50 for each violation and, in addition, a fine of $30 $50 for each lobster involved.

Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §6438-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 468, §7, is amended to read:

2. Penalty. A violation of this section is a Class D crime, except that the court shall impose a fine of $100 $150 for each lobster.

SUMMARY

This bill increases the monetary fines for conviction for violation of certain lobster conservation laws.