[§183D-12]  General administrativepenalties.  (a)  Except as otherwise provided by law, the board isauthorized to set, charge, and collect administrative fines or bring legalaction to recover administrative costs of the department or payment for damagesor for the cost to correct damages resulting from a violation of subtitle 4 oftitle 12 or any rule adopted thereunder.  The administrative fines shall be asfollows:

(1)  For a first violation, by a fine of not more than$10,000;

(2)  For a second violation within five years of aprevious violation, by a fine of not more than $15,000; and

(3)  For a third or subsequent violation within fiveyears of the last violation, by a fine of not more than $25,000.

(b)  In addition, an administrative fine of upto $5,000 may be levied for each specimen of wildlife taken, killed, injured,or damaged in violation of subtitle 4 of title 12 or any rule adoptedthereunder.

(c)  Any criminal action against a person forany violation of subtitle 4 of title 12 or any rule adopted thereunder shallnot be deemed to preclude the State from pursuing civil legal action to recoveradministrative fines and costs against that person.  Any civil legal actionagainst a person to recover administrative fines and costs for any violation ofsubtitle 4 of title 12 or any rule adopted thereunder shall not be deemed topreclude the State from pursuing any criminal action against that person. [L1996, c 152, §1]