Bill Text: WV SB164 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled

West Virginia Senate Bill 164

Bill Title: Relating generally to trespassing

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2024-04-23 - Chapter 81, Acts, Regular Session, 2024 [SB164 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2024-SB164-Enrolled.html

WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Enrolled

Senate Bill 164

By Senators Hunt and Deeds

[Passed March 9, 2024; in effect 90 days from passage]

AN ACT to amend and reenact §61-3B-2, §61-3B-3, §61-3B-6, and §61-3B-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-3B-8, all relating generally to trespass; clarifying protected activities relating to trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance; making double damages applicable to all violations of the article including cleanup costs; authorizing courts presiding in cases for misdemeanor violations of the article to defer entry of judgment and dismiss the charges if payment of ordered damages is made within six months after conviction; and creating criminal penalties.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 3B. TRESPASS.

§61-3B-2. Trespass in structure or conveyance.

(a) Any person who knowingly enters in, upon, or under a structure or conveyance without being authorized, licensed, or invited, or having been authorized, licensed, or invited is requested to depart by the owner, tenant, or the agent of the owner or tenant, and refuses to do so, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person who, without permission, knowingly and willfully enters a structure which has a clear posting that the structure has been condemned by any municipal or county government as unfit for human habitation or use, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $100, or confined in jail not more than six months, or both fined and confined: Provided, That for any first violation of this subsection offense of trespass on condemned property, a court may substitute community service or pretrial diversion in lieu of a fine or confinement for trespassing on condemned property.

(c) If the offender is armed with a firearm or other dangerous weapon while in the structure or conveyance, with the intent to do bodily injury to a human being in the structure or conveyance at the time the offender knowingly trespasses, the offender, notwithstanding the provisions of §61-7-1 of this code, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or be confined in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined.

§61-3B-3. Trespass on property other than structure or conveyance.

(a) It is an unlawful trespass for any person to knowingly, and without being authorized, licensed, or invited, to enter or remain on any property, other than a structure or conveyance, as to which notice against entering or remaining is either given by actual communication to such person or by posting, fencing, or cultivation.

(b) First offense conviction. — Upon a first trespassing conviction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500.

(c) Second offense conviction. — Upon a second trespassing conviction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $1,000.

(d) Third offense conviction. — Upon a third and subsequent trespassing conviction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $1,500.

(e) If the offender defies an order to leave, personally communicated to him or her by the owner, tenant, or agent of the owner or tenant, or if the offender opens any door, fence, or gate, and thereby exposes animals, crops, or other property to waste, destruction, or freedom, or causes any damage to property by such trespassing on property other than a structure or conveyance, he or she is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500, confined in jail for not more than six months, or both fined and confined.

(f) If the offender is armed with a firearm or other dangerous weapon with the unlawful and felonious intent to do bodily injury to a human being during his or her commission of the offense of trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance, the offender, notwithstanding §61-7-1 of this code, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail for not more than six months, fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or both confined and fined.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent lawful assembly and petition for the lawful redress of grievances, during any dispute, including, but not limited to, activities protected by the West Virginia Constitution, or the United States Constitution, or any statute of this state or the United States.

§61-3B-6. Mine trespass; penalties.

(a) A person who willfully enters an underground coal mine, whether active workings, inactive workings, or abandoned workings, without permission, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a correctional facility not less than one year and nor more than 10 years and shall be fined not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000: Provided, That for any conviction pursuant to this subsection, any inactive or abandoned underground workings must be either: (1) Sealed; or (2) clearly identified by signage at some conspicuous place near the entrance of the mine that includes a notice that the unauthorized entry into the mine is a felony criminal offense.

(b) A person who willfully enters a surface coal mine, whether active workings, inactive workings, or abandoned workings, without permission, and with the intent to commit a felony or any larceny, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail not less than one week and not more than one month and shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000. For a second conviction, pursuant to this subsection, the person shall be guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned in a correctional facility not less than one year and not more than five years and shall be fined not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000. For a third or subsequent conviction, pursuant to this subsection, the person shall be guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned in a correctional facility not less than five years and not more than 10 years and shall be fined not less than $10,000 nor more than $25,000.

(c) If a person violates subsections (a) or (b) of this section, and during any rescue efforts for that person there occurs an injury that causes substantial physical pain, illness, or any impairment of physical condition to any person other than himself or herself, then that person is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail for not less than one week and not more than one year and shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000: Provided, That the jail term shall include actual confinement of not less than seven days.

(d) If a person violates subsections (a) or (b) of this section, and during any rescue efforts for that person there occurs an injury that creates a substantial risk of death, causes serious or prolonged disfigurement, prolonged impairment of health, or prolonged loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ to any person other than himself or herself, then that person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a correctional facility for not less than two nor more than 10 years and shall be fined not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000.

(e) If a person violates subsections (a) or (b) of this section, and during any rescue efforts of such person, the death of any other person occurs, then that person is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a correctional facility for not less than three nor more than 15 years and shall be fined not less than $10,000 nor more than $25,000.

(f) The terms "mine", "active workings", "inactive workings", and "abandoned workings" have the same meaning ascribed to them as set forth in §22A-1-2 of this code.

§61-3B-7. Animal or crop facilities trespass; penalties; injunctive relief.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) "Animal" means poultry, livestock, domestic animals, and captive cervids owned and possessed by persons licensed pursuant to §19-2H-1 et seq. of this code. The term does not include an animal used for illegal gaming.

(2) "Animal or crop facility" means a facility that is used in the production, management, sale, or processing of animals or crops. The term includes, but is not limited to:

(A) A building, greenhouse, structure, laboratory, pasture, field, paddock, pond, impoundment, or premises where animals or crops are located;

(B) A managed bee colony;

(D) A facility used for the preparation of, or processing of, animals, crops, or value-added foods for sale; and

(E) A facility used to carry out any agritourism activity, as that term is defined and used in §19-36-1 et seq. of this code.

(3) "Crop" means a shrub, vine, tree, seedling, shoot, slip, or other plant capable of producing food, fiber, medicine, nursery stock, floral products, or aesthetic beauty.

(b) Any person who willfully trespasses on the property of another which constitutes an animal or crop facility with the intent to commit larceny, destroy property, or disrupt the operation of the facility is guilty of willful trespass upon an animal or crop facility.

(c) Any person who conspires with one or more persons to violate subsection (b) of this section and commits an overt act in furtherance thereof is guilty of conspiracy to willfully trespass upon an animal or crop facility.

(d) Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 or confined in jail not more than 30 days, or both fined and confined.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, any person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of subsection (b) or a violation of subsection (c) of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 or imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than five years, or both fined and imprisoned.

(f) The owner or operator of an animal or crop facility may bring an action for injunctive relief against a person who engages in, or threatens to engage in, conduct that constitutes a violation of this section:

(1) The action may be brought in the circuit court of any county in which any part of the conduct or threatened conduct occurs or is threatened to occur.

(2) The circuit court may grant any appropriate injunctive relief to prevent or abate the conduct or threatened conduct, including a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction.

(3) The circuit court may issue injunctive relief without the owner or operator of an animal or crop facility giving security for its issuance.

§61-3B-8. Liability for damages; deferred judgment; dismissal.

(a) As applicable to this article, notwithstanding and in addition to any other penalties provided by law, any person who performs or causes damage to property in the course of a willful trespass shall be liable to the property owner in the amount of twice the amount of such damage, including the cost of cleanup.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a court presiding over a misdemeanor violation of this article may defer entry of the judgment of conviction for a period not to exceed six months and if the damages authorized by subsection (a) of this section are paid within that time period, dismiss the charge.