So, is the following NY State law or not ? Sure does allow no warrant needed "inspections" AND confiscations.
"SECTION 71-0907
Powers and duties of enforcement officers
Environmental Conservation (ENV) CHAPTER 43-B, ARTICLE 71, TITLE 9
§ 71-0907. Powers and duties of enforcement officers.
1. All officers and employees, designated by the commissioner, and all
peace officers, when acting pursuant to their special duties and all
police officers, shall enforce all laws of the state relating to fish,
wildlife, shellfish, crustacea, protected insects and game. Such
officers may include conservation officers, regional and assistant
regional conservation officers, special game protectors, inspectors of
the office of parks and recreation, bay constables, and forest rangers.
2. All police officers, and all peace officers, when acting pursuant
to their special duties, and all officers and employees of the
department, as may be designated by the commissioner, shall enforce the
provisions of title 21 of article 11 of the Fish and Wildlife Law, and
the provisions of article 71 applicable thereto, except that the
department and its enforcement officers are not obligated to enforce the
provisions of section 11-2113 prohibiting trespass upon lands privately
owned, other than licensed game preserves and shooting preserves, unless
the trespass committed consists of (a) hunting, fishing or trapping or
disturbing wildlife; or (b) cutting, pulling or digging of trees; or (c)
the removal of trees.
3. The officers named in subdivision 1 shall enforce the provisions of
this chapter listed in section 71-0501 or under titles 5 through 15
inclusive and title 33 of this article or of judgments obtained for
violation thereof, and shall have, particularly, the powers stated in
subdivision 4. Peace officers shall have the same powers as conservation
officers, and state police under the Fish and Wildlife Law, except the
power to search without warrant.
4. Officers named in subdivision 1 shall have power:
a. To execute all warrants and search warrants issued for violation of
the Fish and Wildlife Law and to serve subpoenas issued for examination,
investigation or trial of offenses against any of its provisions;
b. To search without search warrant any boat or vehicle of any kind,
any box, locker, basket, creel, crate, game bag, package or any
container of any nature and the contents of any building other than a
dwelling whenever they have cause to believe that any provision of this
article or of any law for the protection of fish, shellfish, crustacea,
wildlife, game or protected insects has been or is being violated, and
to use such force as may be necessary for the purpose of examination and
search;
c. To search any dwelling and its contents, provided they have a
search warrant to do so;
d. To arrest without warrant any person committing in their presence a
misdemeanor under the provisions of this chapter listed in section
71-0501 or under titles 5 through 15 inclusive and title 33 of this
article and to take such person immediately before a magistrate having
jurisdiction for trial;
e. To seize as evidence without warrant any fish, shellfish,
crustacea, wildlife, game, or parts thereof, protected insects or
plumage as defined in section 11-1729, whenever they have cause to
believe it is possessed or transported in violation of law, or it bears
evidence of illegal taking, or it is possessed or transported under
circumstances making the possession or transportation presumptive
evidence of illegal taking;
f. To seize as evidence without warrant
(1) Any net, trap or other device constituting a nuisance as defined
in section 71-0915;
(2) Any net, trap or device other than a boat, a vehicle, or aircraft
or a firearm when they have cause to believe that its possession or use
is in violation of any provision of the Fish and Wildlife Law or
regulation pursuant thereto;
(3) Any firearm, when they have cause to believe that it has been used
in a violation of the Fish and Wildlife Law constituting a misdemeanor
involving the illegal taking or attempting to take wild deer;
(4) Any rakes, tongs, dredges, or device other than a boat or vehicle
used, or in possession for purpose of use, for the taking of shellfish
in violation of subdivisions 1 or 2 of section 13-0309. For the
purposes of this paragraph "device" includes a bird, dog, or other
animal used in or as an aid in taking fish or wildlife, any jack light,
spot light or other artificial light other than a headlight attached in
proper position to a motor vehicle, any hunting appliance or apparatus
and any fishing or netting gear or tackle. This paragraph does not
limit any power of seizure pursuant to warrant.
(5) Any boat or vehicle, when they have probable cause to believe it
has been used for the taking of shellfish in violation of subdivision 2
or 3 of section 13-0309 of this chapter by a person possessing, at the
time of such use, commercial shellfish harvesting gear or shellfish in
excess of two pecks. For the purposes of this subparagraph "commercial
shellfish harvesting gear" shall mean rakes, tongs, dredges and other
devices commonly used to harvest shellfish for commercial purposes.
5. To retain custody of and provide for the safekeeping of any thing
seized as provided in paragraph e or f of subdivision 4 of this section,
or deposit it for safekeeping with any police officer, as he deems
appropriate, subject to regulations of the department, or of the
Superintendent of State Police in the case of a member of the state
police, and subject to order of any court having jurisdiction, until
determination of any prosecution, civil or criminal, arising from the
violation or alleged violation with respect to which they are evidence.
6. No officer named in subdivision 1 shall compromise or settle out of
court any civil liability for any violation of the Fish and Wildlife
Law."
I was asked to open my hatches in the SBC about ten years ago while clam bellying by Marine DEC. I did so and thanked them for asking. They were all courteous but strictly professional.
