Section 68-2-26 - Enforcement; Forest Conservation Act.

68-2-26. Enforcement; Forest Conservation Act.

Any officer of the law, forestry agent, forest ranger, forest patrolman or conservation officer enforcing the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act [68-2-1 to 68-2-25 NMSA 1978] may:   

A.     stop any vehicle or means of conveyance containing any woody material for the purpose of making an inspection and investigation;   

B.     inspect the woody material in any vehicle or other means of conveyance, including common carrier; and   

C.     seize and hold any woody material cut, removed, piled, transported or offered for sale in violation of this section. Upon determination by the appropriate court that a section of the Forest Conservation Act has been violated, the forestry division shall sell the woody material and all money collected is to be deposited into the forest land protection revolving fund. [; and]   

D.     seize and hold any property used in violation of this section and, upon determination of the appropriate court that a section of the Forest Conservation Act has been violated, keep or dispose of the property upon order of the district court. All money collected, if any, shall be deposited into the forest land protection revolving fund.