HB 1465

Abstract

Interference with commercial fishing vessel;penalties. Provides that a person who comes within 50 feet ofa commercial fishing vessel without the consent of the owner or personin charge of such vessel with the intent to coerce, intimidate, orharass the captain or crew of such vessel or interfere with the operationsof such vessel is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill makesit a Class 6 felony to communicate to another person by any meansany threat to (i) kill or do bodily injury to a person or personsengaged in the activity of commercial fishing on the waters of the Commonwealth or (ii) bomb, burn, destroy, or in any manner damageany commercial fishing vessel, and increases this penalty to a Class5 felony if such threat places the captain or crew in reasonable apprehension of death or bodily injury. The bill makes it a Class6 felony to intentionally or recklessly damage, injure, tamper with,deface, or destroy a commercial fishing vessel or any associatedgear. The bill provides that a law-enforcement officer may, withor without a warrant, arrest any person for an alleged violation of these offenses and seize any motorboat, personal watercraft, or vesselused or employed in violation of these offenses and that such propertyseized is subject to forfeiture proceedings. The bill also deems a person to be ineligible for any hunting or fishing license for acertain period of time if such person is found guilty of an offenseset out in the bill.