Section 10-423 - Applicability of penalty provisions.

§ 10-423. Applicability of penalty provisions.
 

(a)  Killing or wounding black bears in self defense.- Any penalty imposed under this section does not apply to an individual who kills or wounds a black bear in defense of the individual's own life, the lives of other individuals, or the lives of animals on the individual's property. 

(b)  Penalties.- If the Secretary adopts any regulation, including an emergency regulation, under § 10-205 of this title or § 10-405 of this subtitle to prohibit the hunting, possessing, selling, purchasing, shipping, carrying, transporting, or exporting of black bears, a person who violates the regulation is subject to the following penalties: 

(1) For a first offense, a fine not exceeding $1,500, imprisonment not exceeding 6 months, or both and suspension of the person's hunting license and right to hunt any bird or game animal for a period of time not exceeding 2 years; and 

(2) For a second or subsequent offense, a fine not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment not exceeding 1 year, or both and suspension of the person's hunting license and right to hunt any bird or game animal for a period of time not exceeding 4 years. 
 

[1986, ch. 687; 1990, ch. 6, § 2.]