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April 7, 1999 Equine Placement Network, Inc. equineprotectionnetwork.com |
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New Holland, PA- Members of the Pennsylvania State Police Ephrata Crime Unit Troop J MCSAP Unit, Troop J SET Team, and the State Police Equestrian Unit along with the PenDot Weight Detail inspected all incoming motor carriers and trucks along with Domestic Animal Haulers to the New Holland Sales Stables in New Holland, PA on Monday April 5, 1999 for Agriculture Code violations, Vehicle Code violations and equipment violations.
Pennsylvania State Troopers served Arlow Kiehl, Watertown, NY with a warrant for his arrest inside the auction barn for failure to answer a non traffic citation issued by Pennsylvania State Police.
Mr. Kiehl or his drivers have been previously convicted or pled guilty to the illegal transportation of horses in New York state on several occasions. Most recently a driver for Mr Kiehl, Carlton Simmons, was convicted after trial in Kirkwood, NY on 8 counts of the illegal transportation of horses and fined $800.00 by Judge Benjamin Weingartner. The horses were being transported from the auction in New Holland on the bottom deck of a double deck trailer. Hogs were on the top deck of the trailer, above the horses.
David Carper, a driver for his father, Frank Carper, Cranbury, NJ had his tractor trailer put out of service due to equipment violations. The Carpers are the same company, Frank Carper & Sons, that owes Essex County, NY $11,100 for their 1994 conviction for the illegal transportation of horses. The case was nicknamed the "Horse Popsicle Case" by the media after Assistant District Attorney, Debra Whitson now with the New York State Attorney General's Office, called the frost covered horses, "horse popsicles".
Recently, the PA Department of Agriculture issued both of these companies permits to transport domestic animals in Pennsylvania, regardless of the fact that their convictions in New York are grounds for denial of a permit in Pennsylvania.
Another Domestic Animal Hauler's vehicle was put out of service by the Pennsylvania State Police due to equipment violations. Troopers also issued 10 citations for AG-Code violations along with 20 warnings for AG Code violations, including no Coggins Tests. In addition 21 traffic citations were issued and 29 warnings for Vehicle Code violations. Two vehicles were cited for being overweight.
The sale in New Holland averages 250 horses per week, brought from several states. Horses moved interstate are required by law to have Coggins Tests and health certificates. Dealers and haulers of domestic animals are required under the PA Domestic Animal Act to be licensed.
Currently there is an effort in the Pennsylvania Legislature to pass horse transport legislation modelled after New York State Ag & Markets Law, Section 359-a. HB 590 is currently in the House Judiciary Committee. The same bill failed to pass last session and was reintroduced by Representative Jim Lynch, (R) Warren County.
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3 Legged Horse Bill |
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