Whenever any person, while taking a bird or mammal, kills or wounds any human being and that fact is ascertained by the department, the department shall notify the district attorney of the county in which the act occurred. The district attorney may thereupon bring an action in the superior court of the county in which the act occurred for the purpose of determining the cause of the killing or the wounding. These proceedings shall be conducted in the same manner as an action to try a misdemeanor and the defendant may request that all findings of fact shall be made by a jury. The court shall inform the defendant of the nature of the proceedings and of the defendant’s right to have a jury.
If it is found that the defendant did the killing or wounding, but that it was not intentional or negligent, the court shall dismiss the proceeding. Otherwise, if it is found that the defendant did the killing or wounding intentionally, by an act of gross negligence, or while under the influence of alcohol, the court shall issue an order permanently prohibiting the defendant from taking any bird or mammal.
If it is found that the defendant was negligent, but not grossly negligent, the court shall issue an order prohibiting the defendant from taking any bird or mammal for a period specified at the discretion of the court but not less than five years.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 449, Sec. 17. Effective January 1, 2004.)