Chapter 6.04
LIVESTOCK TRADING AND
BUTCHERS’ LICENSES
Sections:
6.04.010 Compliance with chapter required.
6.04.030 Memoranda of sales required.
6.04.050 Inspection of carcasses.
6.04.060 Inspectors – Appointment.
6.04.070 Inspectors’ and police officers’ rights of inspection.
6.04.080 Issuance of inspection certificates.
6.04.100 Transport – Certificate requirements.
6.04.110 Prosecution authority.
6.04.130 Preparation of forms.
6.04.010 Compliance with chapter required.
For the purpose of this chapter, it is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation acting as principal, agent, or employee to buy and/or sell, trade, or transport in horses, cattle, or mules, or the carcasses thereof, in the county except as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 102 § 2, H-383, 1935).
6.04.020 Definitions.
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply:
A. “Beef” means the whole or any portion of the carcass of any cattle.
B. “Cattle” means any bull, cow, ox, heifer, steer, or calf.
C. “Hide” means the untanned skin of any stock.
D. “Horse” means any horse, mare, gelding, colt, filly, ass, or mule.
E. “Inspector” means any inspector appointed under this chapter and charged with the duties of inspecting brands, beef and hides. (Ord. 102 § 3, H-383, 1935).
6.04.030 Memoranda of sales required.
A. It is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to acquire any such animals without receiving from the vendor memorandum of sale therefor, properly dated and showing the number, ages, sex, and brands and other distinguishing marks of such animals or carcasses; the name and address of the vendor; and the name and address of the person from whom the vendor acquired such animal or carcasses and the date of such acquisition, if within one year prior to the date of the memorandum of sale. Each person, firm, association, or corporation shall keep all such memoranda of sales in a permanent file accessible to the sheriff and inspectors. Within seven days after acquiring any such animals, the dealer shall furnish the sheriff with such certified copy of such memorandum of sale.
B. It is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to dispose of any such animals or carcasses without furnishing the buyer with a memorandum of sale therefor, properly dated, showing the number, ages, sex, brands and other distinguishing marks of the animals or carcasses and the name and address of the purchaser. Within seven days after any such sale, the seller shall furnish to the sheriff a true copy of the memorandum of sale. (Ord. 102 § 3, H-383, 1935).
6.04.040 Butcher’s license.
A. It is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to set up and carry on in the county a business of slaughtering, purchasing beef, or selling beef, without first acquiring and possessing a butcher’s license.
B. The sheriff shall issue all butchers’ licenses but only signed applications and for a fee of $5.00. The application shall contain such information as the sheriff may by rule prescribe. Each license shall be in force and effect for not longer than one year and must be renewed on like application annually on June 1st. The sheriff shall charge and collect a fee of $0.50 for each renewal.
C. It is unlawful for any butcher or slaughterer to acquire any horses, mules, or cattle, or the carcasses thereof, in the county without receiving from the seller a memorandum of sale therefor, properly dated and showing the number, ages, sex, brands, and other distinguishing marks of such animals or carcasses; the names and addresses of the sellers; and the names and addresses of the persons from whom the seller acquired the animals and the date of acquisition, if within one year prior to the date of the memorandum of sale. Each butcher or slaughterer shall keep all such memoranda of sales in a permanent file accessible to the sheriff and inspectors. Within seven days after acquiring such animals or carcasses, a butcher or slaughterer shall furnish to the sheriff certified copies of such memorandum of sale. The provision of this subsection shall also apply to the acquisition of dressed meat of such animals. (Ord. 102 § 5, H-383, 1935).
6.04.050 Inspection of carcasses.
A. Every butcher, slaughterer, or other person killing any cattle in the county, whether for his own consumption or for sale or other disposition, shall keep and make accessible to the sheriff and inspectors or any other persons for a period of 30 days after killing the same, or purchasing or acquiring dressed meat or carcasses, the hides of such animals with ears and tails attached and brands unimpaired; provided, however, that if the hides of such animals are inspected prior to such date and certificates issued therefor, such hides need not be held.
B. It is unlawful for any vendor, other than a licensed butcher or slaughterer with an established place of business, to sell, trade, or otherwise dispose of any carcass or portion thereof without the inspected and stamped hide of such animal accompanying such carcass or portion thereof. (Ord. 102 § 6, H-383, 1935).
6.04.060 Inspectors – Appointment.
The sheriff of the county shall appoint inspectors from among persons recommended by the stock association at such places and in such numbers as he may deem advisable and he may dismiss them at his pleasure. The inspectors shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the board. (Ord. 102 § 7, H-383, 1935)
6.04.070 Inspectors’ and police officers’ rights of inspection.
A. The sheriff and his deputies, and all other police officers, and the regularly appointed inspectors, shall be charged with the enforcement of this chapter. They shall have the authority and it shall be their duty to do the following:
1. Inspect all certificates, bills of sale, records and files provided for by this chapter; and all horses, mules, cattle and the carcasses and hides thereof; and all dressed meat wherever found in the county;
2. Search, with or without search warrant, all butcher shops, slaughterhouses, and any and all other buildings, vehicles, and premises within the county where such officers have reasonable cause to believe violations of the provisions of this chapter are taking place;
3. Seize, with or without warrant, any evidence or exhibits showing violations of this chapter;
4. Investigate the movement of livestock or carcasses within or out of the county to ascertain whether they are being moved in accordance with this chapter and by the are being moved in accordance with this chapter any by the legal owners or agents thereof.
B. All such officers shall have authority to arrest without warrant any such party or parties found to be moving livestock or carcasses or dressed meat, or parts thereof, in any manner other than as provided by general law and this chapter. (Ord. 102 § 8(a), H-383, 1935).
6.04.080 Issuance of inspection certificates.
The sheriff or his inspectors shall stamp each hide inspected with a stamp provided for that purpose and issue therefor a certificate. The certificate shall be accessible with the hide for inspection by the sheriff or his inspectors. The sheriff or his inspectors shall also issue certificates of inspection for each head or lot of cattle, horses, mules or meat inspected and such certificates shall be accessible for inspection by the sheriff or his inspectors. (Ord. 102 § 8(b), H-383, 1935).
6.04.090 Inspection fees.
The sheriff or his inspectors shall collect for each such inspection amounts as follows:
A. Per animal, $0.10 per head;
B. Per hide, whether accompanying the carcass or not, $0.25 per hide in lots of four or less, and $0.10 each for each additional hide. (Ord. 102 § 8(c), H-383, 1935)
6.04.100 Transport – Certificate requirements.
Every owner, shipper, or custodian of cattle, horses, or mules, desiring to ship, drive, or to otherwise transport the same from the county, shall furnish to the nearest stock inspector a signed certificate in triplicate fully describing and showing the number, ages, sex, brands and other distinguishing marks of such animals; the name and address of the owner or shipper and of the consignee; the name and address of the person from whom acquired and the date of such acquisition, if within one year prior to the date of the certificate; and the title by which he holds possession of said animals. The inspector shall personally inspect such livestock and charge therefor an inspection fee of $0.10 per head. After making such inspection and receiving the fees therefor, and unless he has reason to believe that some statements in the certificate are not true or that the person executing the same has no legal right to the possession of the animals, the inspector shall endorse on all copies of the certificate the time and place of his inspection and facts showing whether the certificate appears regular or irregular. After endorsing all copies of the certificate, the inspector shall forward the original to the sheriff who shall keep it in a permanent file in his office. Two copies shall be delivered to the person executing the certificate, who in turn shall deliver one copy to the person or agency transporting or driving said animals. Such person or agency shall keep the certificate in a permanent file or book and accessible to the sheriff and inspectors in his or its office at or nearest the place where said animals were received. It is unlawful for any such person or agency to drive or transport horses, mules, or cattle out of the county without first having in his possession proper certificates covering said animals. (Ord. 102 § 2, H-383, 1935).
6.04.110 Prosecution authority.
All prosecutions for violations of the provisions of this chapter shall be conducted by or under the direction of the prosecuting attorney. (Ord. 102 § 9, H-383, 1935).
6.04.120 Jurisdiction.
The superior court and several justices of the peace of the county shall have concurrent jurisdiction of all offenses under this chapter; provided the justices of the peace shall not be authorized to impose greater penalties than under the general criminal statutes of the state of Washington. (Ord. 102 § 10, H-383, 1935)
6.04.130 Preparation of forms.
The sheriff and prosecuting attorney shall prepare all necessary forms for use under the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 102 § 12, H-383, 1935).
6.04.140 Violation – Penalty.
A. It is unlawful for any person, firm, association, or corporation to violate any of the provisions of this chapter. Any person, firm, association or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a crime and for each separate offense of which convicted shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
B. In addition to any other penalty provided for any violation of the provisions of this chapter by any person, firm, association, or corporation, the judge or justice may at the time of passing sentence suspend or cancel the license of such person, firm, association, or corporation for such periods as the judge or justice may prescribe, but not for longer than one year. (Ord. 102 § 11, H-383, 1935).