Bill supporters said the bill’s purpose was to protect ag production facilities from criminal interference. It penalizes those who illegally video on private property with a misdemeanor and possible jail time of one year or a $5,000 fine.
The bill includes penalties for obtaining employment at an ag production facility through “misrepresentation with the intent to cause economic or other injury” to the facility.
The legislation came two years after a Mercy for Animals video revealed animal abuse at a large Idaho dairy, which resulted in animal cruelty sentences for three of the dairy workers.
Critics and animal activists said the new law overly protects animal industries that have a proven problem of abusing animals. Nathan Runkle from Mercy for Animals said the bill “created a safe haven for animal abuse and other criminal activity in the state.”
—PC staff
