Section 544-N - Prohibited acts1.Defacing or damaging cave prohibited. A person may not deface or damage a cave. A person defaces or damages a cave if the person, without the prior written permission of the owner:A. Breaks, breaks off, cracks, carves upon, writes or otherwise marks upon or in any manner destroys, mutilates, injures, defaces, removes, displaces, mars or harms any natural material found in a cave; [2001, c. 113, §1(NEW).]B. Kills, harms or disturbs plant or animal life found in a cave, except for safety reasons; [2001, c. 113, §1(NEW).]C. Disturbs or alters the natural condition of a cave or takes into a cave any aerosol or other container containing paints, dyes or other coloring agents; [2001, c. 113, §1(NEW).]D. Stores, dumps, litters, disposes of or otherwise places any refuse, garbage, dead animal, sewage or toxic substance harmful to cave life or humans in a cave; [2001, c. 113, §1(NEW).]E. Burns within a cave any material that produces smoke or gas that is harmful to any organism in the cave; or [2001, c. 113, §1(NEW).]F. Breaks, forces, tampers with, removes or otherwise disturbs a lock, gate, door, sign or other structure or obstruction designed to prevent entrance to a cave, whether or not entrance is gained. [2001, c. 113, §1(NEW).] [2001, c. 113, §1(NEW).]
2.Forfeiture. A person who violates the provisions of this subchapter commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of up to $1,000 may be adjudged. [2001, c. 113, §1(NEW).]
3.Damages may be collected by landowner. A person who intentionally defaces or damages a cave on private land in violation of subsection 1 is liable to the owner of that land for actual damages recoverable through a civil action. [2001, c. 113, §1(NEW).]
2001, c. 113, § 1 (NEW) .