Iowa Code 351.45 – Tampering with a rabies vaccination tag

1. A person commits the offense of tampering with a rabies vaccination tag if all of the following apply:

a. The person knowingly removes, damages, or destroys a rabies vaccination tag as described in section 351.35.

b. The rabies vaccination tag is attached to a collar worn by a dog, including as provided in sections 351.25 and 351.26.

Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:

Class	Prison	Fine
Serious misdemeanor	up to 1 year	between $430 and $2,560
Simple misdemeanor	up to 30 days	between $105 and $855

Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
Officer: means a natural person elected or appointed to a fixed term and exercising some portion of the power of a city. See Iowa Code 362.2
Person: means an individual, firm, partnership, domestic or foreign corporation, company, association or joint stock association, trust, or other legal entity, and includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative thereof, but does not include a governmental body. See Iowa Code 362.2

2. a. For a first conviction, the person is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

b. For a second or subsequent conviction, the person is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.

3. This section shall not apply to an act taken by any of the following:

a. The owner of the dog, an agent of the owner, or a person authorized to take action by the owner.

b. A peace officer as defined in section 801.4.

c. A veterinarian licensed as provided in chapter 169.

d. An animal shelter or pound as defined in section 162.2.

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