(720 ILCS 125/2)
(from Ch. 61, par. 302)
Sec. 2.
Any person who performs any of the following is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor:
(a) Wilfully obstructs or interferes with the lawful taking of wildlife or aquatic life by another person with the specific intent to prevent that lawful taking.
(b) (Blank).
(c) (Blank).
(d) (Blank).
A person violates this Section when he or she intentionally or knowingly engages in any of the following acts:
(1) Drives or disturbs wildlife or aquatic life for
| the purpose of disrupting a lawful taking of wildlife or aquatic life. | |
(2) Blocks, impedes, or physically harasses another |
| person who is engaged in the process of lawfully taking wildlife or aquatic life. | |
(3) Uses natural or artificial visual, aural, |
| olfactory, gustatory, or physical stimuli to affect wildlife or aquatic life behavior in order to hinder or prevent the lawful taking of wildlife or aquatic life. | |
(4) Erects barriers with the intent to deny ingress |
| or egress to or from areas where the lawful taking of wildlife or aquatic life may occur. | |
(5) Intentionally interjects himself or herself into |
| the line of fire or fishing lines of a person lawfully taking wildlife or aquatic life. | |
(6) Affects the physical condition or placement of |
| personal or public property intended for use in the lawful taking of wildlife or aquatic life in order to impair the usefulness of the property or prevent the use of the property. | |
(7) Enters or remains upon or over private lands |
| without the permission of the owner or the owner's agent, with the intent to violate this Section. | |
This Section does not apply to actions performed by authorized employees of the Department of Natural Resources, duly accredited officers of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, or other peace officers if the actions are authorized by law and are necessary for the performance of their official duties.
This Section does not apply to landowners, tenants, or lease holders exercising their legal rights to the enjoyment of land, including, but not limited to, farming and restricting trespass.
It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for a violation of this Section that the defendant's conduct is protected by his or her right to freedom of speech under the constitution of this State or the United States.
Any interested parties may engage in protests or other free speech activities adjacent to or on the perimeter of the location where the lawful taking of wildlife or aquatic life is taking place, provided that none of the provisions of this Section are being violated.
(Source: P.A. 96‑397, eff. 1‑1‑10.) |