Vt. law would tighten 'timber trespass' rules

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont lawmakers are looking to chop down on fraud by holding logging companies more accountable to landowners.

A bill now at the Statehouse would levy new fees and criminal penalties on loggers who cut down more trees than agreed upon and don’t pay extra for the extra trees taken.

It’s modeled around Vermont’s consumer fraud laws, allowing state’s attorneys and the attorney general to issue criminal penalties. It also makes it easier to seize equipment from loggers who operate in bad faith.

“The forest products association has testified in favor of the bill and I think the reason is they realize these bad apples are giving them a bad name and they want to come across as the professionals that they are,” said Rep. Marc Mihaly, D-Calais, the bill’s sponsor.

The bill comes on the heels of a lawsuit from the attorney general against a central Vermont logging business.