Section 9002 Of Article 1. Traps From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 6. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 1.
9002
. (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), it
is unlawful to willfully or recklessly disturb, move, or damage any
trap that belongs to another person and that is marked with a buoy
identification number pursuant to Section 9006.
(b) A person, who has been issued a general trap permit under
Section 9001 and has it in his or her possession, may pull or raise a
trap marked with a buoy, if the buoy is marked with a buoy
identification number pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 9006. A
person pulling or raising a trap marked with a buoy identification
number, other than his or her own buoy identification number, shall
have written permission in his or her possession from the other
person who holds the buoy identification number that is marked on the
buoy.
(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to employees of the department
while engaged in the performance of official duties.
(d) (1) Subdivision (a) does not apply to publicly employed safety
personnel, including, but not limited to, lifeguards, marine safety
officers, harbor patrol officers, and peace officers, who, while
engaged in the performance of their official duties, may remove a
trap, buoy, or line located in or near breaking surf or adjacent to a
public beach if they believe that the trap poses a public safety
hazard. If any of those persons remove a trap, a buoy, or a trap or
buoy line, any captured marine life shall be immediately returned to
the ocean.
(2) Any person described in this subdivision who removes a trap
and any attachments thereto identified by a buoy identification
number shall make an attempt to contact the person whose permit or
license number is marked on the buoy by personal contact, by
telephone, by recorded message left on a telephone answering machine,
by regular United States Postal Service, or by other means, advising
where the property is located. Those persons shall have no
responsibility to secure the trap or attachments against loss or
damage.
(3) Employees of the department may disclose the name, address,
and buoy identification numbers of currently permitted or licensed
persons to representatives of public safety agencies described in
this subdivision to assist in the return of traps and attachments to
their proper owners or operators.
(4) If the person whose permit or license number is marked on the
buoy has been notified pursuant to this subdivision but has not
retrieved the trap within seven days of notification, or if that
person cannot be identified within seven days after the trap has been
removed, the trap may be discarded.
(5) This subdivision does not create any duty on any state or
local agency to remove or move a trap, line, or buoy that may
endanger the public safety and does not create any liability pursuant
to Part 2 (commencing with Section 814) of Division 3.6 of Title 1
of the Government Code.