| | | Sec. 3. 17 MRSA §1031, sub-§3-B, ķA, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. | | I, §20 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is amended to read: |
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| | | A. In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, the | court shall impose a fine of not less than $250 | each | | than $2,000 and not more than $5,000 for a 2nd violation | | and, notwithstanding Title 17-A, section 1301, a fine of not | | less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000 for a 3rd or | | subsequent violation, none of which may be suspended. The | | court may also order the defendant to pay the costs of the | | care, housing and veterinary medical treatment for the | | animal. |
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| | | This bill increases the civil fines for cruelty to animals | | from $500 to $2,500 for a first offense to $1,000 to $5,000 and | | from $1,000 to $5,000 for a 2nd offense to $2,000 to $5,000. | | This bill establishes fines for a 3rd or subsequent offense at | | $5,000 to $10,000. This bill increases the criminal fines for | | cruelty to animals from $250 for any offense to $1,000 to $5,000 | | for a first offense, $2,000 to $5,000 for a 2nd offense and | | $5,000 to $10,000 for a 3rd or subsequent offense. None of these | | fines may be suspended. This bill also requires veterinarians to | | report cases in which they have a reasonable suspicion that | | animal cruelty has been committed. |
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