§142-12  Penalties.  (a)  Any person violating any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant thereto, for which action a penalty is not otherwise provided, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as follows:

     (1)  For the first conviction, by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.

     (2)  For a second conviction within one year of a previous conviction, by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 or by imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.

     (3)  For a third conviction within five years of the first conviction, by a fine of not less than $1,000 or by imprisonment of one year, or both.

     (b)  Any person, carrier, or handler who has been convicted of a violation of this chapter more than three times within a five-year period or whose violation poses a grave or serious health threat to the State's citizens, animal industry, wildlife, or domestic animals, shall be guilty of a class C felony and upon conviction shall be punished as follows:

     (1)  For the first conviction, by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment of not more than five years, or both.

     (2)  For a second conviction within five years of a previous conviction, by a fine of not less than $3,000 nor more than $5,000 or by imprisonment of not more than five years, or both.

     (3)  For a third or subsequent conviction within five years of the first conviction, by a fine of not less than $5,000 or by imprisonment of not more than five years, or both.

     (c)  In addition to the penalties in subsection (a) or (b) and for the first conviction, the department of agriculture may impound, seize, confiscate, destroy, quarantine, sell, auction, or dispose of any animal, animal product, container, crate, or any other item under the jurisdiction of this chapter in the best interest of the State.

     (d)  Persons found to be in possession of any animal, fodder, fittings, or effects contrary to this chapter shall be found guilty and upon conviction shall be punished in accordance with this section. [L 1882, c 34, §8; am L 1903, c 8, §1; RL 1925, §621; RL 1935, §216; RL 1945, §1066; RL 1955, §20-13; am L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §22; am L 1961, c 132, §2; HRS §142-12; am L 1972, c 86, §2; am L 1983, c 130, §1; am L 1986, c 262, §1]