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PUBLIC LAW 91-135-DEC. 5, 1969
[83 STAT.
States for any district in which such person is fonnd or resides or transacts business to collect the penalty and such court shall have jurisdiction to hear and decide any such action. In hearing such action, the court shall have authority to review the violation and the assessment of the civil penalty de novo. Search and •'(2) Any employee authorized by the Secretary to enforce the seizure warrant provisions of this section, or any officer of the customs, shall have authority to execute any warrant to search for and seize any wildlife, product, property, or item used or possessed in violation of this section with respect to which a civil penalty may be assessed pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. Such wildlife, product, property, or item so seized shall be held by such employee pending disposition of proceedings by the Secretary involving the assessment of a civil Posting of bond, pejuilty pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection; except that the Secretary may, in lieu of holding such wildlife, product, property, or item, permit such person to post a bond or other surety satisfactory to the Secretary. Upon the assessment of a civil penalty pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection for any nonwillfid violation of this section, such wildlife, product, property, or item so seized may be proceeded against in any court of competent jurisdiction and forfeited to the Secretary for disposition by him in such manotification of ner as he deems appropriate. The owner or consignee of any such seizure. wildlife, product, property, or item so seized shall, as soon as practicable following such seizure, be notified of that fact in accordance with regulations established by the Secretary oi- the Secretary of the Treasury. Whenever any wildlife, product, property, or item is seized pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary shall move to dispose of the civil penalty proceedings pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection as expeditiously as possible. If, with respect to any such Avildlife, product, property, or item so seized, no action is commenced in any court of competent jurisdiction to obtain the forfeiture of such wildlife, product, property, or item within thirty days following the disposition of proceedings involving the assessment of a civil penalty, such wildlife, product, property, or item shall be innnediately returned to the owner or the consignee in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary. Penalty. " (d) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates any provision of subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. "(e) Any wildlife or products thereof seized in connection with any knowing and willful violation of this section with respect to which a penalty may be imposed pursuant to subsection (d) shall, upon conviction of such violation, be forfeited to the Secretary to be disposed of by him in such manner as he deems appropriate. Any other property or item so seized may upon conviction, in the discretion of the court, be forfeited to the United States or otherwise disposed of. The owner or consignee of any such wildlife, product, property, or item so seized shall, as soon as practicable following such seizure, be notified of that fact in accordance with regulations established by the Secretary or the Secretary of the Treasury. If no conviction results from any such alleged violation, such wildlife, product, property or item so seized in connection therewith shall be immediately returned to the owner or consignee in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary, unless the Secretary, within thirty days following the final disposition of the case involving such violation, commences proceedings under subsection (c) of this section.
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