§ 20-37-4 - Enforcement. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 20-37-4

   § 20-37-4  Enforcement. – (a) The director of environmental management and all enforcement personnel inthe director's department, all members of the state police force, and all dulyauthorized city and town law enforcement authorities have power to enforce thislaw. They have authority under warrant to search for and seize any goods,merchandise or animal sold or offered for sale or otherwise used or possessedin violation of this section, or any property or item used in connection with aviolation of this section; the seized goods, merchandise, wildlife, or propertyshall be held pending proceedings in any court of proper jurisdiction. Uponconviction of a violation, the seized goods, merchandise, or animals shall beforfeited and, upon forfeiture, either offered to a college or university forscientific or educational purposes, or destroyed. The possessor of an animalincluded under this chapter has the burden of proof that the animal or partsthereof are not held in violation of this chapter.

   (b) Individuals in possession of the skins of endangeredspecies must show that the skins were purchased or obtained prior to January 1,1974.