597o. (a) Any person who transports an equine in a vehicle to slaughter
shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The vehicle shall have sufficient clearance to allow the equine
to be transported in a standing position with its head in a normal upright
position above its withers.
(2) Any ramps and floors in the vehicle shall be covered with a
nonskid surface to prevent the equine from slipping.
(3) The vehicle shall provide adequate ventilation to the equine
while the equine is being transported.
(4) The sides and overhead of the vehicle shall be constructed to
withstand the weight of any equine which may put pressure against the sides or
overhead.
(5) Any compartments in the interior of the vehicle shall be
constructed of smooth materials and shall contain no protrusions or sharp
objects.
(6) The size of the vehicle shall be appropriate for the number of
equine being transported and the welfare of the equine shall not be jeopardized
by overcrowding.
(7) Stallions shall be segregated during transportation to
slaughter.
(8) Diseased, sick, blind, dying, or otherwise disabled equine shall
not be transported out of this state.
(9) Any equine being transported shall be able to bear weight on all
four feet.
(10) Unweaned foals shall not be transported.
(11) Mares in their last trimester of pregnancy shall not be
transported.
(12) The person shall notify a humane officer having jurisdiction 72
hours before loading the equine in order that the humane officer may perform a
thorough inspection of the vehicle to determine if all requirements of this
section have been satisfied.
(b) (1) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a
misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of one hundred dollars ($100) per equine
being transported.
(2) Any person who violates this section for a second or subsequent
time is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500)
per equine being transported.
(c) Whenever a person is taken into custody by an officer for a
violation of this section, the officer shall take charge of the vehicle and its
contents and deposit the property in some place of custody.
(d) (1) Any necessary expense incurred for taking care of and keeping
the property described in subdivision
(c) is a lien thereon, to be paid before the property can be lawfully
recovered.
(2) If the expense, or any part thereof, remains unpaid, it may be
recovered by the person incurring the expense from the owner of the equine in an
action therefor.
(e) For the purposes of this section, "equine" means any horse, pony,
burro, or mule.
