Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 553

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3, DELAWARE CODE, BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 72 RELATING TO THE POSSESSION OF FOREIGN ANIMALS OR REPTILES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Delaware (two-thirds of all the members elected to each branch concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend Title 3, Delaware Code, by adding a new Chapter 72 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 72. POSSESSION OF ANIMALS OR

REPTILES FOREIGN TO THE UNITED STATES

§ 7201. Possession; permit required

No person shall bring into this State, possess, sell or exhibit any foreign live animal or live reptile not native to or generally found in the United States without a permit as hereinafter provided.

§ 7202. Permit, rules and regulations; State Board of Agriculture; exemptions

The State Board of Agriculture is charged with the enforcement of the preceding section and may issue a permit where it believes that the possession or exhibition of a foreign live animal or live reptile will be in the public interest and may promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary for the proper enforcement of this chapter. The Board shall receive a fee of two ($2.00) dollars for each and every permit issued. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent the use of such live animals or live reptiles for use in medical or psychological research or for their display in any municipal zoological park or traveling circuses after the issuance of the necessary permits.

§ 7203. Penalties

Whoever violates the provisions of this Act shall for each offense be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both. Jurisdiction over this offense shall be in the Justice of the Peace Courts of the State of Delaware.

Approved June 12, 1970.