(a) Any person that gives, pays, or offers, directly or indirectly, any money or other thing of value to any officer or employee of this State authorized to perform any duties prescribed by this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter, with intent to influence the officer or employee in the discharge of any duty, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than  $1,000.00 or by imprisonment for not more than five years, or both. Any officer or employee of this State authorized to perform the duties prescribed by this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter, who accepts any money, gift, or other thing of value from any persons, given with intent to influence his or her official action, or who shall receive or accept from any person engaged in intrastate commerce any gift, money, or other thing of value given with any purpose or intent whatsoever, shall be subject to the penalties provided in 13 V.S.A. § 1102.

(b) Any person that forcibly assaults, resists, or intimidates any inspector, or other person, engaged in the performance of his or her official duties under this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter, shall be subject to the penalties provided in 13 V.S.A. § 1023. Any person who impedes, interferes, or hinders any inspector, or other person, engaged in the performance of his or her official duties under this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter, shall be subject to the penalties provided in 13 V.S.A. § 3001. Whoever in the commission of these acts uses a deadly or dangerous weapon, or who purposely or knowingly causes serious bodily injury to an inspector or other person engaged in the performance of his or her official duties under this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter, shall be subject to the penalties provided in 13 V.S.A. chapter 53. Any person engaged in official duties under this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter shall be considered a law enforcement officer for purposes of determining a penalty under 13 V.S.A. chapter 53. (Added 1985, No. 226 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 2, 1986.)