[Added 9-1-2004 by L.L. No. 6-2004]
The Village of New Paltz has evolved from a rural community to a suburban community populated by families with children and companion animals, who are endangered by the use of lethal traps that constitute a clear danger to the residents of New Paltz, particularly children and companion animals. Thus it is determined that the use of certain traps in certain areas of the Village of New Paltz is no longer safe and appropriate.
The trapping of animals through the use of a steel jaw leghold or conibear trap or snare of any kind that may harm or kill any individual animal is prohibited within 300 feet of buildings in the Village of New Paltz. Said prohibition includes those areas in the Village of New Paltz within 300 feet of buildings located outside the Village of New Paltz.
The trapping of animals is prohibited on Village-owned property. Nonlethal methods of animal removal may be used to protect the public health and welfare, as determined by the Village Board of Trustees.
A. 
Environmental Commission. Those who wish to place traps for any reason within the Village of New Paltz first must notify the Village of New Paltz Environmental Commission ("EnCC") no later than 14 calendar days prior to the setting of traps. The EnCC then may require a meeting with the property owner(s) and/or trapper(s) to inform those who wish to trap about nonlethal options to control animal behavior.
B. 
Signage. Any trapping of any kind that takes place within the Village of New Paltz must be posted both at the edges of the property, with said notices of trapping not to be more than 50 feet apart, and at the site(s) of the trap(s) itself/themselves.
[Amended 10-22-2014 by L.L. No. 13-2014]
Any person violating any provisions of this article shall be guilty of a violation pursuant to the Penal Law and shall be punishable by a fine as set annually by resolution of the Board of Trustees or six months in jail for each offense. Any violation which continues shall be deemed a separate violation and bear a separate penalty for each separate day, defined as between the hours of 12:00:01 a.m. and 12:00 midnight following, on which the violation occurs. The Building Inspector, in consultation with the Village of New Paltz Environmental Commission, shall enforce all provisions of this article.