§ 12010 Bird-Of-Prey Protection Penalties

Fish and Game Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says the biggest punishment for breaking the bird‑of‑prey rule is a fine of up to $5,000, up to one year in county jail, or both.

Key Takeaways

•Applies to endangered, threatened, or fully protected birds of prey.
•Maximum fine is $5,000.
•Maximum jail time is one year, and both can be applied together.

Example

A person catches a protected hawk from the wild and later tells the wildlife department it was raised in captivity.

Because the hawk is an endangered or fully protected bird, the person can be fined $5,000, jailed for up to a year, or face both penalties.

How to Calculate

Penalty = Fine (maximum $5,000) + Imprisonment (maximum 1 year)

Decide how much of the $5,000 fine to impose (any amount up to $5,000).
Decide how many months of jail to impose (any time up to 12 months).
Add the fine and the jail time together if both are used.

Judge chooses the maximum penalties.

Result: The person pays a $5,000 fine and serves 12 months in county jail.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 12010 Bird-Of-Prey Protection Penalties

Notwithstanding Section 12002, the maximum punishment for each violation of Section 3503.5 relating to a bird-of-prey that is either designated as endangered, threatened, or fully protected, or taken from the wild and subsequently reported to the department as having been bred in captivity, is a fine of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not to exceed one year, or both the fine and imprisonment. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 132, Sec. 217. (AB 1760) Effective January 1, 2024.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

bird-of-prey endangered threatened fully protected Section 3503.5

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Fish and Game Code. Section 12010.

§ 12010 Bird-Of-Prey Protection Penalties

Fish and Game Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 12010 Bird-Of-Prey Protection Penalties

This law says the biggest punishment for breaking the bird‑of‑prey rule is a fine of up to $5,000, up to one year in county jail, or both.

Key Takeaways

•Applies to endangered, threatened, or fully protected birds of prey.
•Maximum fine is $5,000.
•Maximum jail time is one year, and both can be applied together.

Example

A person catches a protected hawk from the wild and later tells the wildlife department it was raised in captivity.

Because the hawk is an endangered or fully protected bird, the person can be fined $5,000, jailed for up to a year, or face both penalties.

How to Calculate

Penalty = Fine (maximum $5,000) + Imprisonment (maximum 1 year)

Decide how much of the $5,000 fine to impose (any amount up to $5,000).
Decide how many months of jail to impose (any time up to 12 months).
Add the fine and the jail time together if both are used.

Judge chooses the maximum penalties.

Result: The person pays a $5,000 fine and serves 12 months in county jail.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 12010 Bird-Of-Prey Protection Penalties

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

bird-of-prey endangered threatened fully protected Section 3503.5

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Fish and Game Code. Section 12010.

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

How to Calculate

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References