Rockland County, NY Chapter 351 Spring Traps

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature 4-18-2000 by L.L. No. 6-2000. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 351-1 Legislative intent.

A. Rockland County has evolved from a rural community as it existed in the 1950's to a suburban community highly populated by families, with children, whose family members are endangered by use of spring-type "snapping" leg and/or body-grabbing traps or conibear traps which constitute a danger to the population and are no longer safe and appropriate for continued use in human traffic areas in Rockland County. In addition, safe and humane alternatives exist to said snapping-type spring leg and/or body-grabbing traps or conibear traps.

B. This Legislature has determined that a "zone of danger" exists to the public from spring-type "snapping" leg traps and/or body-grabbing traps or conibear traps in human traffic areas and high traffic residential areas within Rockland County.

§ 351-2 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning as herein indicated:

HIGH-TRAFFIC RESIDENTIAL AREA

A. Within 100 feet of a one- or two-family residence.

HUMAN TRAFFIC AREA

The area within a distance of 150 feet of the following areas where human activity such as walking, playing, picnicking, running, jogging, sports and recreational activities, and general movement, is designed to occur by the construction, maintenance, use and design of public and private land use. This shall include the following:

A. All school buildings.

B. All school playgrounds or athletic fields.

C. All designated bike paths.

D. All municipal buildings, playgrounds or athletic fields.

E. All land marked or designated as public parks of municipalities.

F. All marked or designated public trails or walkways.

G. All public swimming facilities, including the picnicking areas, parking areas, athletic or open fields connected to or used as part of said facility.

H. All houses of worship.

I. All municipal parking lots.

J. All commercial "open to the public" buildings, parking lots and recreational use lands, including but not limited to golf courses.

K. All County property.

L. All residential multiple dwelling buildings.

M. All residential group homes for mentally, physically or infirmed individuals.

N. All adult homes.

O. All residential senior citizens complexes.

P. All day-care facilities.

§ 351-3 Prohibitions and implementation.

For the implementation of the purposes of this chapter and for the health, safety and well-being of all the residents of Rockland County, the following provisions are now mandatory and adopted:

A. The use of spring-type snapping leg traps and/or body-grabbing or conibear traps is prohibited within 150 feet of human traffic areas or 100 feet of high-traffic residential areas of the County of Rockland.

B. No spring-type or snapping leg and/or body-grabbing traps or conibear traps with or without jaws that are constructed or intended to seize the leg, body or appendage of an animal shall be used, or set, within the "zone of danger" of human traffic areas or high-traffic residential areas in the County of Rockland.

C. This prohibition shall apply to any similar device which has the potential to maim or dismember the animal and thereby injure or maim a child or adult human being.

D. These prohibitions shall not in any way affect, limit or prohibit trapping in Rockland County, which is permitted by law pursuant to the New York State Conservation Law or other state statutes, by a trap or device which confines, without injuring, an animal to be caught within a human traffic area or high-traffic residential area, if same is authorized by the State Conservation Law or other statute.

§ 351-4 Enforcement authority.

The Rockland County Parks Manager, park rangers and the Sheriff of Rockland County and all police officers with authority to act within the state shall be vested with the responsibility and authority to accomplish the purpose and intent and to monitor and enforce the provisions of this chapter.

§ 351-5 Penalties for offenses.

A. Any person who engages in the setting of spring-type snapping leg and/or body-grabbing traps or conibear traps within the geographical boundaries of the County of Rockland, except state parkland or where otherwise superseded or exempted by law, shall be guilty of an offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 or imprisonment for not more than five days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

B. Any person who has been found guilty of engaging in the setting of spring-type snapping leg and/or body-grabbing traps or conibear traps within the geographical boundaries of the County of Rockland for a second or subsequent time shall be guilty of an offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.