SB355 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Mark Slade Blackwell

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Trapping of fur-bearing animals, licensing, use of plastic tags on traps and the requirement that the license number of the owner of a trap be contained on any tag, deleted, Sec. 9-11-59 am'd.

Summary

SB355 changes trap tagging and trapping licenses in Alabama, with specific rules for beaver traps and associated license fees.

What This Bill Does

It requires traps for fur-bearing animals to have a tag showing the owner's license number, name, and address; for traps used only for beaver, the tag would show only the name and address. It sets trapping license fees: $7.65 for residents and $500.15 for nonresidents, with beaver-only trapping not requiring a license fee. Violations are misdemeanors with fines from $250 to $2,000 per offense and allow confiscation of trapping devices, which become property of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The license is valid only during the fur-bearing season. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after the governor approves it.

Who It Affects

• Residents who trap fur-bearing animals: must obtain a trapping license, tag traps as specified, and pay the resident fee.
• Nonresidents who trap fur-bearing animals: must obtain a trapping license, tag traps as specified, and pay the nonresident fee.
• Beaver-only trappers: traps must be tagged with owner name and address; license fees are not required for beaver-only trapping.
• Law enforcement and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: responsible for enforcing tagging and licensing rules and for confiscating trapping devices that violate the law.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 9-11-59 to require trap tagging with a tag bearing the owner's license number, name, and address; for traps used only for beaver, the tag bears only the name and address.
• Establishes trapping license fees: $7.65 for residents and $500.15 for nonresidents; beaver-only trapping does not require a license fee.
• License validity is limited to the fur-bearing season.
• Violations are misdemeanors with fines ranging from $250 to $2,000 per offense and allow confiscation of trapping devices, which become property of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after the governor signs it into law.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Conservation and Natural Resources Department