Leave your friends aligator alone!
You could end up in jail for 10 years for kidnapping an aligator.
RS 14:67.13
�67.13. Theft of an alligatorÂ
A. Theft of an alligator is the misappropriation or taking of an alligator, an alligator’s skin, or a part of an alligator, whether dead or alive, belonging to another, either without the consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations. An intent to deprive the other permanently of the alligator, the alligator’s skin, or a part of an alligator is essential.
B.(1) Whoever commits the crime of theft of an alligator when the misappropration or taking amounts to a value of five hundred dollars or more shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than ten years, or may be fined not more than three thousand dollars, or both.
(2) When the misappropriation or taking amounts to a value of one hundred dollars or more, but less than a value of five hundred dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years, or may be fined not more than two thousand dollars, or both.
(3) When the misappropriation or taking amounts to less than a value of one hundred dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned for not more than six months, or may be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or both. If the offender in such cases has been convicted of theft of an alligator two or more times previously, upon any subsequent conviction he shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years, or may be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or both.
Acts 1992, No. 410,� 1.
At first glance one may think that the laws in Louisiana concerning theft of alligators and crawfish are dumb laws. But down here in America’s marshlands, alligator and crawfish are both food products and are farmed or raised as such, just as cattle and corn is in all US States. Just as it is illegal to go into a farmer’s grain elevator and take his corn or onto a rancher’s ranch and take his cattle, it is illegal to trespass onto a alligator farmer’s or crawfisher’s lease or private pond and steal the product that these farmers use to provide for their families.
In understanding the lifestyle and businesses of South Louisiana one develops an understanding of these laws, making them practical, not dumb.
In conclusion, these laws are no different than the laws currently on the books of any other region preventing theft of goods. The only difference here is that the products are specific to a region that has unique circumstances and unique goods to offer.
Why is this an idiot law? There are plenty of people who’s only source of income is hunting aligators.