A. In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, any person charged with violating any regulation governing the culling of oysters shall be required, by the officer making the charge, to scatter the entire cargo of oysters on the public rocks under the supervision of the officer and at the expense of the person charged with the violation. In lieu of throwing the cargo overboard, the person charged with the violation may post cash bond with the officer in an amount approximately equal to the value of the entire load as determined by the officer. The refusal to either dump the oysters overboard or post a cash bond is a distinct and separate offense from any other violation. A person who has posted a cash bond and is acquitted shall be refunded the cash bond. If the person is found guilty, the cash bond shall be forfeited and deposited to the credit of the Oyster Replenishment Fund.Any person charged with such a violation who posts cash bond shall properly cull the entire cargo of oysters immediately after the officer has found them to be in violation of such regulation and before they can be sold, planted, or disposed of by him or by any other person.

B. The requirement to scatter the entire cargo of oysters on the public rocks shall only apply to a cargo of oysters taken by any catcher from the public oyster grounds and shall not apply to oysters which have been purchased by and are in the possession of a buyer.A violation of any provision of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

History

Code 1950, § 28-141; 1960, c. 517; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-124; 1964, c. 393; 1966, c. 684; 1968, c. 747; 1979, c. 606; 1981, c. 52; 1985, c. 125; 1992, c. 836; 2013, c. 38.