06 LC
25 4323
House
Bill 1488
By:
Representatives Burns of the
157th,
Lane of the
158th,
Roberts of the
154th,
Harbin of the
118th,
and May of the
111th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to hunting, so as to
change certain provisions relating to unlawful use of certain substances and
equipment in hunting game animals or game birds; to define a term; to prohibit
computer assisted remote hunting; to provide punishments for violations; to
provide for forfeiture of certain equipment used in the commission of crime; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
1 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to hunting, is amended by
striking Code Section 27-3-12, relating to unlawful use of certain substances
and equipment in hunting game animals or game birds, and inserting in lieu
thereof the following:
"27-3-12.
(a)
It shall be unlawful to hunt any
wild
animal, game
animal,
or game bird by means of drugs, poisons, chemicals, smoke, gas, explosives,
recorded calls or sounds, or recorded and electronically
imitated
or amplified sounds or
imitations
of calls or sounds
calls.
It shall also be unlawful to use electronic communications equipment for the
purpose of facilitating pursuit of any
wild
animal, game
bird,
or game animal.
(b)(1)
As used in this subsection, the term 'computer assisted remote hunting' means
the use of a computer or other device, equipment, hardware, or software to
control remotely the aiming and discharge of a firearm or other weapon so as to
allow a person not holding that firearm or other weapon to hunt or shoot a wild
animal or any wildlife.
(2)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, or association to engage
in computer assisted remote hunting or provide or operate a facility that allows
others to engage in computer assisted remote hunting if the wild animal or
wildlife being hunted or shot is located in this state.
(3)(A)
Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature and upon conviction thereof shall be
punished by a fine of not less than $1,000.00 and not more than $5,000.00,
imprisonment for a term not to exceed 12 months, or both such fine and
imprisonment.
(B)
Any equipment used or intended for use in a violation of this Code section,
excluding motor vehicles, is declared to be contraband and shall be forfeited to
the state.
(C)
The hunting and fishing privileges of any person convicted of violating this
subsection shall be suspended for three
years."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.