SENATE BILL NO. 1300 BY RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE AN ACT RELATING TO TRESPASS AND MALICIOUS INJURIES TO PROPERTY; AMENDING CHAPTER 70, TITLE 18, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION 18-7035, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT IT SHALL BE A MISDEMEANOR FOR ANY PERSON TO DAMAGE, TRESPASS IN OR ATTEMPT TO TRESPASS IN A CAVE OR CAVERN.
Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
Section 1.
That Chapter 70, Title 18, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and designated as Section 18-7035, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:
Section 18-7035. DAMAGING CAVES OR CAVERNS UNLAWFUL -- PENALTY.
It shall be unlawful for any person, without prior permission of the federal, state or private landowner, to willfully or knowingly break, break off, crack, carve upon, write or otherwise mark upon, or in any manner destroy, mutilate, injure, deface, remove, displace, mar or harm any natural material found in any cave or cavern, such as stalactites, stalagmites, helectites, anthodites, gypsum flowers or needles, flowstone, draperies, columns, tufa dams, clay or mud formations or concretions, or other similar crystalline mineral formations or otherwise; to kill, harm or in any manner or degree disturb any plant or animal life found therein; to otherwise disturb or alter the natural conditions of such cave or cavern through the disposal therein of any solid or liquid materials such as refuse, food, containers or fuel of any nature, whether or not malice is intended; to disturb, excavate, remove, displace, mar or harm any archaeological artifacts found within a cave or cavern including petroglyphs, projectile points, human remains, rock or wood carvings or otherwise, pottery, basketry or any hand-woven articles of any nature, or any pieces, fragments or parts of any such articles; or to break, force, tamper with, remove of otherwise disturb a lock, gate, door, or other structure or obstruction designed to prevent entrance to a cave or cavern, without the permission of the owner thereof, whether or not entrance is gained. For purposes of this section, "cave" means any natural geologically formed void or cavity beneath the surface of the earth, not including any mine, tunnel, aqueduct or other manmade excavation, which is large enough to permit a person to enter. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
NOTE: A misdemeanor is a fine of $300.00 and/or imprisonment in jail up to 6 months.