An Act To Require Timely Reporting of Dog Licensing

Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3924, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 1987, c. 383, §3, is amended to read:

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3943,  as repealed by PL 2009, c. 343, §19, is reenacted to read:

§ 3943.  Municipal warrants

Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §3947, first ¶,  as amended by PL 2009, c. 343, §20, is further amended to read:

Each municipality shall appoint one or more animal control officers whose duties are enforcement of sections 3911, 3912, 3916, 3921, 3924, 3943, 3948, 3950, 3950-A, 3952 and 4041 and Title 17, section 1023, responding to reports of animals suspected of having rabies in accordance with Title 22, sections 1313 and 1313-A and any other duties to control animals as the municipality may require. A municipality may appoint an employee of an animal shelter as an animal control officer as long as the person meets the qualifications and training requirements of this section.

summary

Current law requires the licensing of a dog by January 31st annually. If a person acquires a license after January 31st, a late fee of $25 is imposed in addition to the licensing fee. However, there is no specific penalty for failing to ever license a dog; only failure to license on time. This bill clarifies that the general penalty imposed for a violation of the dog licensing laws, a maximum fine of $100, applies to a person who is in possession of a dog that has never been licensed, plus the applicable licensing fee and late fee.

This bill also restores the municipal warrant process, which requires municipal officers to compile a list of owners or keepers of dogs that have been previously licensed but have not been licensed as of February 1st annually and further requires a law enforcement officer or animal control officer to serve those warrants on the owners of those dogs.