West Virginia § 19-18-3 Criminal penalties for trespassing livestock

West Virginia Statutes

§ 19-18-3 — Criminal penalties for trespassing livestock

West Virginia § 19-18-3

Ch. 19AGRICULTURE

Art. 18GENERAL STOCK LAW

This text of West Virginia § 19-18-3 (Criminal penalties for trespassing livestock) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

W. Va. Code § 19-18-3 (2026).

Text

(a)While livestock may escape enclosures due to accident or unforeseen circumstances, it is unlawful for the owner of livestock to negligently permit livestock to run at large and trespass on the property of other landowners.

(b)If livestock injures a person or destroys the property of another person while negligently trespassing, the owner of the livestock shall be given an oral or written warning for the first offense. For a second offense within six months of the first, the owner is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100. For a third or subsequent offense within six months of the second or subsequent offense, the owner is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more

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(a) While livestock may escape enclosures due to accident or unforeseen circumstances, it is unlawful for the owner of livestock to negligently permit livestock to run at large and trespass on the property of other landowners.

(b) If livestock injures a person or destroys the property of another person while negligently trespassing, the owner of the livestock shall be given an oral or written warning for the first offense. For a second offense within six months of the first, the owner is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100. For a third or subsequent offense within six months of the second or subsequent offense, the owner is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.