Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 18 : Section 43


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 43. Animal enterprise terrorism

      (a) Offense. - Whoever - 
        (1) travels in interstate or foreign commerce, or uses or
      causes to be used the mail or any facility in interstate or
      foreign commerce for the purpose of causing physical disruption
      to the functioning of an animal enterprise; and
        (2) intentionally damages or causes the loss of any property
      (including animals or records) used by the animal enterprise, or
      conspires to do so,

    shall be punished as provided for in subsection (b).
      (b) Penalties. - 
        (1) Economic damage. - Any person who, in the course of a
      violation of subsection (a), causes economic damage not exceeding
      $10,000 to an animal enterprise shall be fined under this title
      or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.
        (2) Major economic damage. - Any person who, in the course of a
      violation of subsection (a), causes economic damage exceeding
      $10,000 to an animal enterprise shall be fined under this title
      or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both.
        (3) Serious bodily injury. - Any person who, in the course of a
      violation of subsection (a), causes serious bodily injury to
      another individual shall be fined under this title or imprisoned
      not more than 20 years, or both.
        (4) Death. - Any person who, in the course of a violation of
      subsection (a), causes the death of an individual shall be fined
      under this title and imprisoned for life or for any term of
      years.

      (c) Restitution. - An order of restitution under section 3663 or
    3663A of this title with respect to a violation of this section may
    also include restitution - 
        (1) for the reasonable cost of repeating any experimentation
      that was interrupted or invalidated as a result of the offense;
        (2) the loss of food production or farm income reasonably
      attributable to the offense; and
        (3) for any other economic damage resulting from the offense.

      (d) Definitions. - As used in this section - 
        (1) the term "animal enterprise" means - 
          (A) a commercial or academic enterprise that uses animals for
        food or fiber production, agriculture, research, or testing;
          (B) a zoo, aquarium, circus, rodeo, or lawful competitive
        animal event; or
          (C) any fair or similar event intended to advance
        agricultural arts and sciences;

        (2) the term "physical disruption" does not include any lawful
      disruption that results from lawful public, governmental, or
      animal enterprise employee reaction to the disclosure of
      information about an animal enterprise;
        (3) the term "economic damage" means the replacement costs of
      lost or damaged property or records, the costs of repeating an
      interrupted or invalidated experiment, or the loss of profits;
      and
        (4) the term "serious bodily injury" has the meaning given that
      term in section 1365 of this title.

      (e) Non-Preemption. - Nothing in this section preempts any State
    law.



Previous [Notes] Next

Related Resources

Criminal Law Guide

Criminal Law Articles and Documents

Federal White Collar Crime Summary

Criminal Law Discussion

FindLaw Career Center

    Search for Law Jobs:

      Post a Job  |  View More Jobs
Ads by FindLaw