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



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



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



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



(b)  In addition, an administrative fine of up
to $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 adopted
thereunder.



(c)  Any criminal action against a person for
any violation of subtitle 4 of title 12 or any rule adopted thereunder shall
not be deemed to preclude the State from pursuing civil legal action to recover
administrative fines and costs against that person.  Any civil legal action
against a person to recover administrative fines and costs for any violation of
subtitle 4 of title 12 or any rule adopted thereunder shall not be deemed to
preclude the State from pursuing any criminal action against that person. [L
1996, c 152, §1]