Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Indiana is treading down the same path that many other states are at this time in that there is a proposed Bill that is supposed to go into effect on July 1, 2010. Senate Bill 0280 or S280 is taking on the release of exotic reptiles as a class C misdemeamor with fines and possible jail time. They also propose to take the bill one step further by requiring people "In the Business of selling reptiles" to register with Indiana DNR. I don't know that there is any way to defeat or deter this bill.

Is there any way to challange the wording of this bill, more specifically the textbook definition of "Exotic" in the way it referes to reptiles? They are identifying an Exotic reptile as any reptile that is not native to Indiana. This means that any animals that are know to occur in the surrounding states along state borders would not be allowed to legally cross the state lines for fear that they would be subject to fines. But really, I have been in the association of reptiles for over 25 years now in association with the Pet Trade and Local Pet Stores. When the heck did the term "EXOTIC" when pertaining to reptiles come to mean animals that are native to North America? I could see the term used when diferentiating a reptile in general as a pet as opposed to dogs or cats, or in the matter of differentiating an reptile from another continent, but to say that just because a reptile does not live in our state means that it is exotic? Rediculus!!!

Here is a link to the Indiana site:
http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2010&session=1&request=getBill&docno=0280&doctype=SB

Any advice on getting the verbage in this bill changed? This affects all reptiles owners and Private and Retail reptile sellers in Indiana. Most of them are not even aware that on July 1, they will be guilty of this new idiotic law since there are no provisions the just notify will be given to any people that already have these animals.

Chris

Well, that pretty much sucks. One nice thing about moving to Indiana a couple years was that I wasn't required to have a permit to sell snakes. Oh well...

If they put forth the similar requirements for breeding native reptiles, they will require microchipping, and that you will allow unwarranted searches. Ugh.

Why not have permits for dog and cat owners? All those animals have done way worse damage than reptiles all over the world.
Unfortunately, I think we all the answers to that question.

They do have licensing for dogs and cats. Most people thumb their noses at it. As they damn well should in my opinion. One way to take down our crooked govt. is for them to try and exercise rules they don't have power to enforce. The "war on drugs" is another excellent example of this. Our govt. spends billions of dollars annually attempting to fight this battle and all they ever do is lose it. At the end of the day if you want to buy drugs you can still do so and they are of better quality now than they ever have been.
The worst thing is most of the drug dealers out there use their product. After having had to fire 3 drug addicts from my band in the last 5 months because of their unreliability I can tell you first hand how sad of a statement that is on law enforcement in this country considering the time and money they put into the "war on drugs".
Now back to the animal world there is much less money spent on animal control and you think they are going to go after everyone who doesn't license their dogs.

People that use hard drugs support Narco-Terrorists right on our own border.

The War on Drugs is another Federal boondoggle/Miserable failure.

Narcotics Addiction should be decriminalized and considered a social/mental illness.

Locking people up and in effect ruining their future for any sort of meaningful redemption to society has proven a ridiculous strategy.

Psychological treatment should be the prescribed alternative. Inpatient rehab and longterm Outpatient maintenance.

Let's give it a try and see if it isn't more cost effective, with less recidivism.

One more example of our seriously broken government -- just shows an urgent need for a radically thorough overhaul of the system.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

We need to stop the DEMAND here in the U.S. Rather hypocritical of us to constantly blame the supplier countries and spend most of our resources in foreign lands, supporting locally unpopular causes and corrupt regimes.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

I completely agree with both of your above posts, John!

I was told this didn't pass!!!???

This is old news!
This Bill was introduced back in Jan of 2010.
By March it was struck down.
But to be on the save side, I placed a call to my contact within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and it is confrimed.
No pending Bills are open to regualate the sales of Reptiles in the state of Indiana at this time.

But, don't be surprised if it raises it's ugly head again.
We are under attack. The entire hobby is.
From county, state and Federal agencies.
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Ron Billingsley
www.IndianaReptileExpo.com