Legislation Would Expand DNR Law Enforcement Authority

[bigtex]

Defeating this bill wouldn't mean that DNR doesn't get those jurisdictions. It just means that it's up to each county sheriff. I really like being represented locally. Deputies are my neighbors. DNR guys may or may not be. Sorry to disagree with you on this BT. I really like what you do here. I just may not always agree with your or your department's position.

No problem Pianoman. Everybody has their views.

And you are correct, if this bill doesn't pass it just simply means they need to continue to ask sheriff's for commissions until such legislation does pass.

[6x6in6]

Bigtex, is Whatcom County one county that has presently commisioned DNR LE?
I'm not going to call Elfo (yes others, that is the sheriffs name  ) if he has commisioned DNR LE already and waste his time.
Thanks!!

Unless something changed in the past 2 or so years yes Whatcom does. Skagit County has as well. Skagit County also commissions National Park Service Rangers. I believe both Skagit and Whatcom commissions USFS Officers as well.

Thank you!

[CementFinisher]

i did read the first page just couldn't find the benefit lol. Eatonville WA, ashford, naches, I think are a good example of them not taking care of their lands and just sitting out on access points between town and the dnr land.

Well 25-30 Sheriff's in this state see a benefit. The benefit is they are able to act as an LEO when something happens right in front of them when they are off DNR lands.

When you say eatonville/ashford I assume you are talking about the Elbe Forest. The officer who handles Pierce County also handles King which is where most of his time is spent since that is where most of the problems are and visitation is. Up until mid-summer 2012 he was also responsible for Mason and Kitsap counties. Do they have a staffing shortage? Duh. The officer for DNR in Yakima and Kittitas Counties has 15 E WA counties under his area.

LOL Not exactly. Just have the staff acually work and handle more than one task. Nancy who is incharge of the elbe area actually leaves her office and gets out and deals with people dumping, illigaly camping, no discovery passes and shes not an enforcemnt officer. she is acuatlly out earning her paycheck when she is not busy in the office or having meetings with the jeep clubs, hunters, horese groups

[bigtex]

i did read the first page just couldn't find the benefit lol. Eatonville WA, ashford, naches, I think are a good example of them not taking care of their lands and just sitting out on access points between town and the dnr land.

Well 25-30 Sheriff's in this state see a benefit. The benefit is they are able to act as an LEO when something happens right in front of them when they are off DNR lands.

When you say eatonville/ashford I assume you are talking about the Elbe Forest. The officer who handles Pierce County also handles King which is where most of his time is spent since that is where most of the problems are and visitation is. Up until mid-summer 2012 he was also responsible for Mason and Kitsap counties. Do they have a staffing shortage? Duh. The officer for DNR in Yakima and Kittitas Counties has 15 E WA counties under his area.

LOL Not exactly. Just have the staff acually work and handle more than one task. Nancy who is incharge of the elbe area actually leaves her office and gets out and deals with people dumping, illigaly camping, no discovery passes and shes not an enforcemnt officer. she is acuatlly out earning her paycheck when she is not busy in the office or having meetings with the jeep clubs, hunters, horese groups

Under state law DNR and Parks can give limited law enforcement authority commissions to their non-law enforcement employees. About 80 DNR employees who aren't law enforcement officers actually have authority to write DNR citations. I would bet "Nancy" has this authority.

[huntrights]

This type of discussion regarding proposed legislation that can affect all of us is great!  Many of the questions and answers are very enlightening.  Thank you!

[csaaphill]

 
for me but whatever.

[huntinguy]

So, then just who would the DNR guys report to? The local LEO operates according to the dictates of his/her department. Like Seattle before the election, the City guys were told not to enforce the MJ laws but the State was still enforcing.

So, if the County Sheriff said we were or were not going to enforce _____ and the State said the would enforce ___________. What happens?

No, I think this should be left at the local jurisdiction.

[bigtex]

So, then just who would the DNR guys report to? The local LEO operates according to the dictates of his/her department. Like Seattle before the election, the City guys were told not to enforce the MJ laws but the State was still enforcing.

So, if the County Sheriff said we were or were not going to enforce _____ and the State said the would enforce ___________. What happens?

No, I think this should be left at the local jurisdiction.

This doesn't change who they report to. The DNR LEO would still report to the DNR LE Chief in Olympia just like they do today. Just like a WDFW Officer/WSP Trooper reports to a Chief in Olympia.

County Sheriff's only have authority over their deputies, not city cops or state officers. Your example of Seattle PD not enforcing MJ laws only applied to Seattle PD; King County Sheriff, Metro Transit Police, Sound Transit Police, Port of Seattle Police, UW Police, and WDFW all have law enforcement jurisdiction within Seattle city limits and still enforced MJ laws, even though the city said Seattle PD wouldn't.

[bigtex]

To elaborate even more about state officers operating in counties and the so called "local control" problem. We already know WDFW and WSP can enforce any laws anywhere in the state. Well we also have Liquor Control Board Officers enforcing state alcohol, tobacco, and as a result of the marijuana initiative drug laws in all counties no matter who owns the land. There are Gambling Commission Special Agents enforcing state gambling laws anywhere in the state. I personally have never heard a sheriff in WA complain publicly about any of these agencies enforcing laws within their jurisdiction in their county. DNR already has the authority to enforce all state laws on DNR lands, just like state Park Rangers can on State Park lands. It is not as if the Liquor Control Board all of a sudden wants to start doing traffic enforcement which they have never done before.

Many states have completely gotten rid of the different levels of law enforcement, such as liquor control can only do alcohol enforcement, or fish and wildlife can only do fish and wildlife. Many states have the mentality of, "if youre a cop, then your a cop" and the state officers have the authority to enforce all state laws anywhere. There are still the specialized agencies, such as liquor control who specialize in liquor laws, but if they see a DUI in front of them they can do a traffic stop and process the DUI.

Those that constantly say WA is a police state, should really look at what officers/agencies can do in other states...You may be surprised.

[Knocker of rocks]

Those that constantly say WA is a police state, should really look at what officers/agencies can do in other states...You may be surprised.

It isn't a contest

[bigtex]

This bill has it's first hearing in front of the House Public Safety Committee on 2/19.

[bigtex]

For an update on this bill check out the following combined thread:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,118921.0.html

[Practical Approach]

Pretty sure there is only about 6 DNR enforcement officers statewide.  One for each region.             

[bigtex]

Pretty sure there is only about 6 DNR enforcement officers statewide.  One for each region.           

DNR Chief said today there are 9 DNR Officers. Last year there were 8.

[Practical Approach]

Every little bit helps I guess.  Not many officers for a lot of real estate.