1. Period of confinement. No railroad, motor truck, common carrier or its receiver, trustee or lessee which transports animals within the State or other person having the care, custody or charge of animals loaded into any such form of transportation may confine the animals in cars, boats, vehicles or vessels of any description for a period longer than 28 consecutive hours without unloading the animals in a humane manner, by means of a chute or tailgate of sufficient size, into properly equipped pens or other suitable enclosures for rest, water and feeding for a period of at least 5 consecutive hours, unless prevented by storm, accident or other unavoidable cause which cannot be anticipated or avoided by the exercise of due diligence and foresight. In estimating the time of confinement, the time consumed in loading and unloading shall not be considered, but the time during which the animals have been confined without such rest, food or water in a car, boat, vehicle or vessel shall be included. [PL 1987, c. 383, §3 (NEW).] 2. Extension of time for confinement. Upon the separate written request of the owner or person in custody of the shipment of animals, the time of confinement may be extended to 36 hours. [PL 1987, c. 383, §3 (NEW).] 3. Sheep. A railroad, motor truck, common carrier or its receiver, trustee or lessee, or other person having the care, custody or charge of sheep loaded into any such form of transportation, is not required to unload sheep in the nighttime, but, when the time expires in the nighttime, the sheep may continue in transit to a suitable place of unloading not exceeding the maximum limitation of 36 hours during which they may be confined. [PL 1987, c. 383, §3 (NEW).] 4. Preference of animals as freight. A railroad, motor truck and common carrier within the State shall give cars, boats, vehicles or vessels containing cattle, sheep, swine or other animals a continuous passage in preference to other freight. Cars, boats, vehicles or vessels loaded with animals at any station shall have precedence over all other freight. [PL 1987, c. 383, §3 (NEW).] 5. Conditions of transportation. Cars, boats, vehicles or vessels shall be sufficiently covered or boarded on the sides and ends to afford proper protection to animals in case of storms or severe cold weather and shall be properly ventilated. A greater number of animals shall not be loaded into any car, boat, vehicle or vessel than can stand comfortably within. No person may transport any animal in or upon any car, boat, vehicle or vessel in a cruel or inhumane manner. [PL 1987, c. 383, §3 (NEW).] 6. Violation. Any person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a forfeiture of not less than $50 nor more than $500 for every such offense may be adjudged. [PL 1987, c. 383, §3 (NEW).] 7. Construction. Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit the use of strike cages for dogs while in the lawful sport of hunting or in training or the movement of livestock or poultry when standards of the industry are followed. [PL 1997, c. 690, §42 (AMD).]
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