(a) It is unlawful to allow livestock to run at large on the public highways or on unenclosed lands within the State.

Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 3 Sec. 7701

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • At large: means livestock that strays from confinement or restraint and from the property of the owner including livestock that strays into a confined area that is owned by a person other than the owner of the livestock. See Delaware Code Title 3 Sec. 7700
  • Department: means the Department of Agriculture. See Delaware Code Title 3 Sec. 7700
  • Livestock: means domesticated species including: bovine, camelid, cervid, equine, swine, ruminants, ratites, rabbits, poultry, and other animals harvested for food, fiber, fur, or leather. See Delaware Code Title 3 Sec. 7700
  • State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
  • Unenclosed lands: means lands, other than the livestock owner's property, where the livestock would be able to run loose, free of confinement, or otherwise unrestrained by the livestock owner. See Delaware Code Title 3 Sec. 7700

(b) The Secretary of Agriculture may impose a civil penalty of not less than $50 or more than $500 for each offense on any person owning livestock found to have run at large, on the public highways, or on unenclosed land within the State. For each subsequent offense occurring within 12 months of a prior offense, the person is subject to a civil penalty not less than $500 or more than $1000 for each offense. The minimum civil penalty for a subsequent offense may not be subject to suspension.

(c) No civil penalty shall be assessed unless the person charged has been given notice and opportunity for a hearing on each charge under Chapter 101 of Title 29.

(d) All civil penalties collected under this chapter must be remitted to the Department or other assigned agency.

(e) An administrative order that has become final imposing any civil penalties from the Department under this chapter shall be enforceable as a judgment and the Department may collect on such order as a judgment when such order is filed in the Office of the Prothonotary or other appropriate court. Any finding of fact or conclusion of law made by the Department in an administrative order that has become final shall be conclusive on all parties to an action under this chapter and not subject to judicial review. For purposes of this section, a finding or conclusion is final if it has been fully determined on appeal to the appropriate court or if the time for filing such appeal with respect to the finding or conclusion has expired.

19 Del. Laws, c. 657, § ?1; Code 1915, § ?3632; Code 1935, § ?4182; 3 Del. C. 1953, § ?7701; 64 Del. Laws, c. 292, § ?1; 67 Del. Laws, c. 195, § ?1; 81 Del. Laws, c. 37, § 2; 82 Del. Laws, c. 152, § 1;