1. (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the board is authorized to set, charge, and collect administrative fines or bring legal action to recover administrative costs of the department or payment for damages or for the cost to correct damages resulting from a violation of subtitle 4 of title 12 or any rule adopted thereunder. The administrative fines shall be as follows:

   1. (1) For a first violation, by a fine of not more than $10,000;
   2. (2) For a second violation within five years of a previous violation, by a fine of not more than $15,000; and
   3. (3) For a third or subsequent violation within five years of the last violation, by a fine of not more than $25,000.
2. (b) In addition, an administrative fine of up to $5,000 may be levied for each specimen of wildlife taken, killed, injured, or damaged in violation of subtitle 4 of title 12 or any rule adopted thereunder.
3. (c) Any criminal action against a person for any violation of subtitle 4 of title 12 or any rule adopted thereunder shall not be deemed to preclude the State from pursuing civil legal action to recover administrative fines and costs against that person. Any civil legal action against a person to recover administrative fines and costs for any violation of subtitle 4 of title 12 or any rule adopted thereunder shall not be deemed to preclude the State from pursuing any criminal action against that person.

[L 1996, c 152, §1]