Quote:
Originally Posted by megascops-osio
have a link to the legislation that empowers agencies to approve anyone in the general public to keep exotic venomous in alabama? i'm sure zoos in alabama have them, but i know of no one else who legally does. i have a friend who moved from florida and he was told NOPE and the legislative code says as much.
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"220-2-.26 "Restrictions on Possession, Sale, Importation and/or Release of Certain Animals and Fish"
INTENDED ACTION:
Amendment.
SUBSTANCE OF PROPOSED ACTION:
This rule provides for an exception for certain persons who are determined to have received incorrect information concerning the possession or importation of skunks in Alabama; prohibits possession, sale, importation, or release of any nonindigenous venomous reptile with certain exceptions; and further provides for certain exceptions."
Alabama Administrative Monthly, Volume XIX, No. 6
This "exception" is the kicker. It is wholely up to the sheriff in each individual county on a "case by case" basis. It was never cleared up in legislative action and documented which has caused a great deal of confusion in the state. Department of Natural Resources cannot do anything as it doesn't give specific inforcement powers to them. And this was just the update where it was back ended on the skunk bill... the original exceptions were zoo's, educational displays and programs, medical research, and those already in possession of such reptiles. Either way you cut it I am covered by at least two of those exceptions along with the exception relating to the county thanks to a good friend who did me a big favor before he left office.
So in a nutshell your friend is pretty much out of luck due to the confusion and wording of the code. Had he been around before it was passed and updated he would have had no problem.
But I have something on the back burner sort of like the Florida code. Just finding a rep or senator to attatch it onto a sure fired passible bill is not an easy thing to do. A basic outline of it is this.
If a permit was obtained from another state that has a permit sysyem in place the "training" period is waved and only the $250 permit fee along with a $50 dollar application fee is all that would be due along with the initial visit from Dept. of Natural Resources. If no permit was obtained a 1 year training period of no less than 520 hours and a properly filled out application with certified and noterized documented proof of 520 hours actual training along with all fees would get you a first visit and then a permit. Violations would be fined like this. First violation $300. Second $600. Third loss of permit and animals for one years time from date of infraction and another $800.
You may think the fee's and fines are kind of high but they will fund the on site visits and not cause a budget increase for that department. plus let's face it.... Alabama is pretty much broke anyway.
