Idaho § 25-616 - Penalty for violations

§ 25-616. Penalty for violations

(1) Any person, firm, or corporation who shall fail to do or perform, or who shall not permit another to do or perform, any act which he or it is required to do or perform under the provisions of this chapter, or who shall in any manner interfere with the compliance of the provisions of this chapter by any officer or representative of the department, veterinary services or commissioners, or who shall refuse to present or restrain any cattle or other animals for the purpose of identifying, testing, inspecting, examining, vaccinating, or branding pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, or who shall remove any eartag from any brucellosis reactor, or who shall remove the eartag from any animal tested, identified or vaccinated for brucellosis and place such tag on or in the ear of another animal, or place a vaccination tag in the ear of an unvaccinated animal is guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction, violators are subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each offense, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months.

(2) Any person violating the provisions of this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter may be assessed a civil penalty by the department or its agent of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each offense. Persons against whom civil penalties are assessed are liable for reasonable attorney’s fees. Civil penalties may be assessed in conjunction with any other department administrative action. Civil penalties may not be assessed unless the person charged has been given notice and an opportunity for a hearing pursuant to the provisions of chapter 52, title 67 , Idaho Code. If the department is unable to collect an assessed civil penalty or if any person fails to pay all or a set portion of a civil penalty as determined by the department, the department may recover such amount by action in the appropriate district court. Any person against whom the department has assessed a civil penalty under this chapter may, within twenty-eight (28) days of the final agency action making the assessment, seek judicial review of the assessment in accordance with the provisions of chapter 52, title 67 , Idaho Code. Moneys collected for violations of this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the livestock disease control and T.B. indemnity fund. If the director determines that a person has not complied with this chapter or the rules promulgated under this chapter, the director shall identify appropriate corrective actions. The director may develop a formal compliance schedule to correct deficiencies caused by noncompliance. The director may, through a formal compliance schedule, allow all or part of the value of the assessed civil penalties to apply toward correction of the deficiencies.

(3) Nothing in this section requires the director to report minor violations for prosecution when he believes that the public interest will be best served by suitable warnings or other administrative action.

[25-616, added 1939, ch. 150, sec. 16, p. 267; am. 1980, ch. 148, sec. 2, p. 317; am. 1986, ch. 102, sec. 4, p. 289; am. 1988, ch. 114, sec. 14, p. 211; am. 1993, ch. 13, sec. 17, p. 54; am. 2002, ch. 102, sec. 3, p. 279.]