Minnesota Session Laws - 1990, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1990 

                        CHAPTER 558-S.F.No. 1703 
           An act relating to natural resources; authorizing the 
          enforcement of certain natural resource laws by 
          conservation officers; increasing the penalty for 
          wrongful destruction or removal of no trespassing 
          signs; prohibiting shooting at decoys under certain 
          circumstances; prohibiting deer stands on highway 
          right-of-way; amending Minnesota Statutes 1988, 
          sections 97A.205; 97B.055, subdivision 1; and 97B.325. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1988, section 97A.205, is 
amended to read: 
    97A.205 [ENFORCEMENT OFFICER POWERS.] 
    An enforcement officer is authorized to:  
    (1) execute and serve court issued warrants and processes 
relating to wild animals, wild rice, public waters, water 
pollution, conservation, and use of water, in the same manner as 
a constable or sheriff; 
    (2) enter any land to carry out the duties and functions of 
the division; 
    (3) make investigations of violations of the game and fish 
laws; 
    (4) take an affidavit, if it aids an investigation; 
    (5) arrest, without a warrant, a person who is detected in 
the actual violation of the game and fish laws, a provision of 
chapters 84, 84A, 85, 86A, 88 to 106A, 361, sections 89.51 to 
89.61; or 609.66, subdivision 1, clauses (1), (2), (5), and (7); 
and 609.68; and 
    (6) take an arrested person before a court in the county 
where the offense was committed and make a complaint.  
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1988, section 97B.055, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [RESTRICTIONS RELATED TO HIGHWAYS.] (a) A 
person may not discharge a firearm or an arrow from a bow on, 
over, or across an improved public highway at a big game 
animal.  A person may not discharge a firearm or bow and arrow 
within the right-of-way of an improved public highway at a big 
game animal.  The commissioner may by order extend the 
application of this subdivision to the taking of migratory 
waterfowl in designated locations.  
    (b) A person may not discharge a firearm or an arrow from a 
bow on, over, across, or within the right-of-way of an improved 
public highway at a decoy of a big game animal that has been set 
out by a licensed peace officer. 
    Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1988, section 97B.325, is 
amended to read: 
    97B.325 [DEER STAND RESTRICTIONS.] 
    A person may not take deer from a constructed platform or 
other structure that is located within the right-of-way of an 
improved public highway or is higher than 16 feet above the 
ground.  The height restriction does not apply to a portable 
stand that is chained, belted, clamped, or tied with rope. 
    Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment. 
    Presented to the governor April 26, 1990 
    Signed by the governor May 3, 1990, 5:31 p.m.