Get Up to 10 Years of Hard Labor for Stealing Crawfish in Louisiana
Crawfish prices are sky-high in Louisiana and while, yes, we know that stealing anything is illegal, stealing crawfish in Louisiana is especially illegal!
What can happen to you if you're caught stealing crawfish in Louisiana?
Believe it or not, your punishment for stealing crawfish in Louisiana depends on how much crawfish you steal... and how many times you've been caught stealing it. This is truly something you can't make up. According to Louisiana statute TITLE 14 — Criminal law RS 14:67.5 — Theft of crawfish; penalty:
§67.5. Theft of crawfish; penalty
A. Theft of crawfish is the misappropriation or taking of crawfish belonging to another or proceeds derived from the sale of such crawfish, whether done without the consent of the owner to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations, with the intent to deprive the owner permanently of the crawfish, or proceeds derived from the sale of the crawfish.
B.(1) Whoever commits the crime of theft of crawfish when the misappropriation or taking amounts to a value of one thousand 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 five hundred dollars or more, but less than a value of one thousand five hundred dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five 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 five 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 crawfish one or more times previously, upon any subsequent conviction he 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.
Whoa! You better believe we don't mess around when it comes to our crawfish in Louisiana. And don't get caught stealing crawfish twice, you could end up doing hard labor for up to TEN YEARS!