§187A-15  Rights of inspection of catch.  Any agent of the department upon whom the board has conferred powers of police officers or any other enforcement officer of the State shall have the authority to conduct examinations and searches of:

     (1)  The contents of any bag or container of any kind used to carry aquatic life; or

     (2)  Any vehicle or conveyance used to transport aquatic life;

Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 187A-15

  • Aquatic life: means any type or species of mammal, fish, amphibian, reptile, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, invertebrate, coral, or other animal that inhabits the freshwater or marine environment and includes any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof; or freshwater or marine plants, including seeds, roots, products, and other parts thereof. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 187A-1
  • Board: means the board of land and natural resources. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 187A-1
  • Department: means the department of land and natural resources. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 187A-1
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.

if such agent or officer has probable cause, as provided by law, to believe that such bag, container, vehicle, or conveyance contains evidence of a violation of subtitle 5 of title 12 or any rule adopted thereunder.  No person shall refuse any enforcement officer of the department or any other enforcement officer of the State such examination and search.