Ohio Code 1531.133 – Wildlife violators compact for joint enforcement operations
(A)(1) The chief of the division of wildlife, with the approval of the director of natural resources, may enter into a memorandum of understanding, agreement, or mutual aid compact with the head of any entity of another state, federal entity, or foreign entity that employs or appoints a law enforcement officer who has substantially the same duties as a peace officer, as “peace officer” is defined in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code, to enable wildlife officers and the specified law enforcement officers to assist each other in the provision of law enforcement services within the jurisdictions that are subject to the memorandum of understanding, agreement, or mutual aid compact.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 1531.133
- Another: when used to designate the owner of property which is the subject of an offense, includes not only natural persons but also every other owner of property. See Ohio Code 1.02
- Fishing: means taking or attempting to take fish by any method, and all other acts such as placing, setting, drawing, or using any device commonly used to take fish whether resulting in a taking or not. See Ohio Code 1531.01
- Hunting: includes every attempt to kill or wound and every act of assistance to any other person in killing or wounding or attempting to kill or wound wild birds or wild quadrupeds. See Ohio Code 1531.01
- Indemnification: In general, a collateral contract or assurance under which one person agrees to secure another person against either anticipated financial losses or potential adverse legal consequences. Source: FDIC
- state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
(2) Employees of the division of wildlife who are serving under the terms of a memorandum of understanding, agreement, or mutual aid compact entered into under division (A)(1) of this section shall be considered as performing services within their regular employment for purposes of compensation, pension or indemnity fund rights, workers’ compensation, and other rights or benefits to which they may be entitled as incidents of their regular employment.
(3) Employees of the division of wildlife who are serving under the terms of a memorandum of understanding, agreement, or mutual aid compact entered into under division (A)(1) of this section retain personal immunity from civil liability under section 9.86 of the Revised Code and all rights of indemnification and representation incident to regular employment.
(B) The chief shall adopt rules to enter into a reciprocal agreement with participating states for the enhancement of compliance with hunting, fishing, and other wildlife laws. The agreement is named the wildlife violators compact. The agreement and the rules shall provide for the fair and impartial treatment of wildlife violators operating within participating states in recognition of the violators’ due process rights.