trespassing fine

[oldschool]

 Just courious what is the fine?

[jasnt]

Washington state trespassing charges are all misdemeanors or gross-misdemeanors, meaning they are punishable by up to either 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine for a misdemeanor, or up to 1 year and jail and a $5000 fine for a gross-misdemeanor.

[nontypical]

that's true except for during hunting most everyone is carry a firearm and that can be considered trespassing with a weapon can complicate things

[buckcanyonlodge]

I turned in a trespasser on one of my leases and he got a $500 fine for trespassing while hunting. Of course he worked for the wdfw... If he would have killed anything he could have lost his license for 2 years. The prosecutors office called me three times to drop the charges. Did not drop them.

[PolarBear]

Washington state trespassing charges are all misdemeanors or gross-misdemeanors, meaning they are punishable by up to either 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine for a misdemeanor, or up to 1 year and jail and a $5000 fine for a gross-misdemeanor.

You can add a beat down to that if it is on my land. 

[eastsidemallard74]

It happened to me but while hunting. I dragged a deer through 2 properties,unknowingly,got a $180 fine,retake hunters ed,and 2 years no hunting in Adam's county.

[huntinguy]

Just courious what is the fine?

According to a game warden I spoke with: you can get a heavy fine, loose hunting privileges for ... I think five years, loose anything associated with the trespass- up to and including your hunting implement and the vehicle that brought you there.

He kind of made it sound like it was as bad, penalty wise, as poaching a trophy animal.

Washington state has gotten really aggressive with the fines for "Trespassing while hunting."

[fishnfur]

You have to catch them first, and get a sheriff or warden out to confront and cite the offender. 

[180-GRAIN]

Washington state trespassing charges are all misdemeanors or gross-misdemeanors, meaning they are punishable by up to either 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine for a misdemeanor, or up to 1 year and jail and a $5000 fine for a gross-misdemeanor.

You can add a beat down to that if it is on my land. 

  exactly what I was thinking 

[OutHouse]

I've represented a few people accused of trespassing while hunting. It's always charged as 2nd degree trespass and these cases are usually ripe for a plea bargain or other deal that is favorable to the hunter. It depends on the prosecutor, but if the hunter doesn't have an extensive record, usually a deal can be negotiated where they stay clean for a year and then get the charge dismissed. Often times, the hunter didn't do anything intentionally and has no record of game violations. That type of person can get a good deal if they have someone actively working for them. Now, if the witness (usually the land owner) has had issues with the same person, then they have a tough case. I think most hunters including myself have trespassed accidentally at one time or another.

[JLS]

that's true except for during hunting most everyone is carry a firearm and that can be considered trespassing with a weapon can complicate things

Unless threats were made with the firearm, it is an irrelevant component of the violation.  It just becomes a trespassing while hunting violation instead of criminal trespass 2nd.  Both are misdemeanor violations.

[JLS]

Just courious what is the fine?

According to a game warden I spoke with: you can get a heavy fine, loose hunting privileges for ... I think five years, loose anything associated with the trespass- up to and including your hunting implement and the vehicle that brought you there.

He kind of made it sound like it was as bad, penalty wise, as poaching a trophy animal.

Washington state has gotten really aggressive with the fines for "Trespassing while hunting."

The only mandatory revocation is if an animal was killed, then it's two years mandatory suspension.  The courts are far from aggressive with it in the areas I hunt.

[boneaddict]

Someone should ask Huntnnw 

[Skyvalhunter]

Ouch!!!

[sagerat]

Sounds like it might be worth it

[92xj]

Did he get to keep the deer?

[JLS]

Sounds like it might be worth it

Probably not, as you will lose the animal.

[sagerat]

Sounds like it might be worth it

Probably not, as you will lose the animal.

Only in the slim chance you get caught

[sagerat]

I've been tempted countless times but would never actually do it

[BULLBLASTER]

Someone should ask Huntnnw 

Might wait till he gets back from hunting... 

[boneaddict]

Yeah it really cramped his style hunting in Idaho and Nevada. Lol.  I guess that's one advantage to not invoking the Lacey act.     If asked why aren't you hunting in Washington, you might respond why would I want too. 

[BULLBLASTER]

Yeah it really cramped his style hunting in Idaho and Nevada. Lol.  I guess that's one advantage to not invoking the Lacey act.     If asked why aren't you hunting in Washington, you might respond why would I want too. 

Got to love the huntwa rumor mill....

[PolarBear]

Someone should ask Huntnnw 

 

[JimmyHoffa]

So, high country was right on?  I was hoping there was some kind of misunderstanding, huntnnw had some good animals and threads (not just the last thread  ).

[trophyhunt]

Just courious what is the fine?

According to a game warden I spoke with: you can get a heavy fine, loose hunting privileges for ... I think five years, loose anything associated with the trespass- up to and including your hunting implement and the vehicle that brought you there.

He kind of made it sound like it was as bad, penalty wise, as poaching a trophy animal.

Washington state has gotten really aggressive with the fines for "Trespassing while hunting."

The only mandatory revocation is if an animal was killed, then it's two years mandatory suspension.  The courts are far from aggressive with it in the areas I hunt.

Always depends on the prosecutor, the thread I posted a couple months ago shows just how screwed up the system is.  Two guys with multiple violations caught redhanded by two witnesses, they had a statement from one of the defendants dad admitting the violations. Tresspassing, hunting without the proper tag, and killing a 6 point bull to boot.  They paid around 600 in violations and got probation for 1 year! No loss of hunting rights and these guys were constant poachers, well known with fish and game.  The problem was the prosecutor and the chief of police,  the chief was a friend of these guys. And the prosecutor made a deal without even talking to the officer who was involved.  These guys got off with a slap on the wrist when they should have got the full penalties allowed.

[Sliverslinger]

Washington state trespassing charges are all misdemeanors or gross-misdemeanors, meaning they are punishable by up to either 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine for a misdemeanor, or up to 1 year and jail and a $5000 fine for a gross-misdemeanor.

You can add a beat down to that if it is on my land. 

  exactly what I was thinking 

Because assault<trespass?

On second thought, attacking and attempting to beat the ass of someone with a weapon while also risking charges of assault yourself clearly sounds like the most intelligent approach.

[PolarBear]

 

[brew]

before weyco went to a permit system i knew a couple folks that drove through an open gate on a friday that said it was only open for motorized traffic on the weekends.  they each got $1,000 fines for trespass and lost rights to hunting weyco for 2 years but i didn't hear if any other sanctions were imposed

[bigtex]

WA no longer has bail forfeitures for criminal offenses, penalties are now completely up to a judge. This changed in 2012. Prior to that I could tell you a loaded gun in a vehicle was $271, snagged salmon $540, etc. Now officers can just tell you the statutory penalty.

Criminal trespass 2nd degree in WA is a misdemeanor which means UP TO $1,000 and UP TO 90 days in jail. If you are charged with the "hunting while trespassing" offense the penalties are the same but your looking at possible, game and weapons being forfeited as well as license suspension.

[Boss .300 winmag]

As a land owner I would hope the state would hold offender to the max penalty. 

[bigtex]

As a land owner I would hope the state would hold offender to the max penalty. 

Realistically, it's all up to your county prosecutor. They're the ones making the deals. In most areas a trespass charge falls to the bottom of the bucket in terms of importance. In the counties I work anything more than a $250 fine is surprising.