2000 Minnesota Statutes

     88.642 Decorative trees; cutting, removal of; 
  transportation; prohibitions; exceptions. 

    No person shall cut, remove, or transport for decorative 
 purposes or for sale in natural condition and untrimmed, more 
 than three decorative trees as defined herein, without the 
 written consent of or a bill of sale provided by the owner of 
 the land on which the same are grown and whether such land be 
 publicly or privately owned.  The written consent shall be on a 
 form furnished and approved by the department of natural 
 resources, and shall contain the legal description of the land 
 where the decorative trees were cut, as well as the name of the 
 legal owner, or a duly authorized agent or agents, thereof.  The 
 written consent or bill of sale, or a copy thereof certified as 
 a true copy by the person to whom the consent was given or sale 
 made, or by the county recorder of the county in which the land 
 is situated, if recorded, shall be carried by every person 
 cutting, removing, or transporting any decorative trees, 
 untrimmed or in their natural condition, or in any way aiding 
 therein, and shall be exhibited to any officer of the law, 
 forest ranger, forest patrol officer, conservation officer, or 
 other officer of the department of natural resources, at the 
 officer's request at any time.  Any officer shall have power to 
 inspect any decorative trees when being transported in any 
 vehicle or other means of conveyance or by common carrier, to 
 make an investigation with reference thereto as may be necessary 
 to determine whether or not the provisions of sections 88.641 to 
 88.648 have been complied with, to stop any vehicle or other 
 means of conveyance found carrying decorative trees upon any 
 public highways of this state, for the purpose of making an 
 inspection and investigation, and to seize and hold subject to 
 the order of the court any decorative trees found being cut, 
 removed, or transported in violation of any provision of 
 sections 88.641 to 88.648.  No common carrier or agent thereof 
 shall receive for shipment or transportation any decorative 
 trees unless the consignor, whose name and address shall be 
 recorded, exhibits at the time of consignment the written 
 consent, bill of sale, or certified copy thereof herein provided 
 for.  Failure to so exhibit a written consent or bill of sale 
 shall be prima facie evidence that no consent was given or 
 exists.  

    HIST: 1949 c 546 s 2; 1967 c 905 s 9; 1969 c 1129 art 10 s 2; 
 1976 c 181 s 2; 1983 c 133 s 2; 1986 c 444