License suspensions

[Oh Mah]

  I see W.D.F.W LEO'S giving warnings every year at camp for vehicles to far off the road at camp,never seen them or heard that they gave a ticket to someone but always hear how someone was harassed by a LEO for doing it.Ask did you get a ticket? Answer no.My reply quit complaining then.

I've seen plenty given out for shooting over the road though.

@bigtex am i wrong or would the op have been getting off lucky with the shotgun violation?Since it is federal law.

[bigtex]

I see W.D.F.W LEO'S giving warnings every year at camp for vehicles to far off the road at camp,never seen them or heard that they gave a ticket to someone but always hear how someone was harassed by a LEO for doing it.Ask did you get a ticket? Answer no.My reply quit complaining then.

I've seen plenty given out for shooting over the road though.

@bigtex am i wrong or would the op have been getting off lucky with the shotgun violation?Since it is federal law.

If he was migratory bird hunting yes it could've gone federal.

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[Jpmiller]

The only time I'm my life I ever saw a wdfw officer was at a check station at the Vail tree farm. I give it my very best effort to be in compliance with game laws so perhaps they're seeing me and not come over to me or maybe they don't all drive game and fish vehicles? Where are you guys coming across them so often?

[Rainier10]

So I wasn't there when these tickets were handed out.  Although they do seem like something he could give a warning for they were also breaking the rules.  What we don't know is how many other rules were broken.  Did the officer actually cut the guy a break and only write him up for the no punchcard figuring he could contest that and prove that he had one and not write him up for some other violation?  Possible.  I know I have been pulled over for speeding and given a ticket for no seat belt.  I gladly paid the no seat belt ticket.

Before we flame law enforcement for writing a ticket for breaking the law and not giving the guy a break it we should think about what the rest of the story could be.  Maybe there isn't a "rest of the story" but I don't think we should assume either way and flame the OP or enforcement.

[dfresh96]

I have a question about violations, Is a ticket for riding a atv on a non-motorized vehicle road considered in getting your hunting license suspended? I realize in some cases they may not be licensed hunters. I personally have never received 1 but do know of someone who has a couple & has gone to court to have them reduced. also I apologize for thread jacking. 

[jstone]

He should get his license suspended!!!!!

[Sneaky]

License Suspensions and Property Forfeiture
Washington State’s Fish and Wildlife
Enforcement Code (Revised Code of
Washington Chapter 77 15) requires the
mandatory suspension of a person’s hunting
privileges if a person is convicted of one of the
following violations:
• Assaulting a Fish and Wildlife
Enforcement Officer or an employee or
agent of the Department performing
official duties
• Unlawful hunting of big game
• First degree waste of fish and wildlife
• Harvesting endangered fish or wildlife
• Hunting big game with an artificial light or
spotlight
• Violating the prohibition on hunting bear
with bait or the limitations on using dogs to
hunt bear, cougar, bobcat, or lynx
• Unlawfully purchasing or using a license
• Committing a crime that involves a willful
or wanton disregard for conservation of
wildlife
• Shooting another person or domestic
livestock while hunting
In addition, repeat offenders will receive a
mandatory two-year suspension of all fishing
and hunting privileges A repeat offender
is any person with two strikes within ten
years for big game hunting violations and
three strikes within ten years for all other
recreational hunting and fishing violations
The law treats an uncontested notice of
infraction, or a guilty plea as a conviction that
will be counted Bail forfeiture (payment of
a fine on a citation) will not count towards a
suspension

BF and uncontested NOI are not the same thing.

[Mudman]

Pretty open ended defintions on that list.  Do not "Flame" officers. they have a job and do it.  The regs/laws are what I have issues with on occasion.  And another problem is open interpretation of ambiguous definitions which are left to the Leo to Judge?  Leo isn't a Judge nor should be asked to be one imop.  I received a fine for riding atv where was not allowed.  Not hunting.  Warden was a pro and respectful.  However the other young guy he was training wasn't and was reeled in by the senor officer.  Only negative experience I have had with Wardens.  My fault, not paying attention.  I DO NOT agree with this States ridiculous laws sometimes and there is plenty.  I do not flame Leos for enforcing them.  Many feel the same as u and I about em.  Law enforcement is about education and protection just as much as enforcement and $ collection imop.  Warnings are a good thing, repeats deserve punished.

[dfresh96]

We had a few differing of opinion conversations on the subject.   
He was a local to the area we once had property.  The sherriff who ticketed him came into our camp thinking we were riding in area fortunately we didnt have a atv with us.

He blamed us for turning him in but some new folks moved in area as well & got tired of him riding on private unposted property. 

He should get his license suspended!!!!!

[Rainier10]

We had a few differing of opinion conversations on the subject.   
He was a local to the area we once had property.  The sherriff who ticketed him came into our camp thinking we were riding in area fortunately we didnt have a atv with us.

He blamed us for turning him in but some new folks moved in area as well & got tired of him riding on private unposted property. 

He should get his license suspended!!!!!

Not sure if @jstone  was saying your guy should get his license suspended @dfresh96  or if he was saying the OP should get his license suspended. 

[dfresh96]

We had a few differing of opinion conversations on the subject.   
He was a local to the area we once had property.  The sherriff who ticketed him came into our camp thinking we were riding in area fortunately we didnt have a atv with us.

He blamed us for turning him in but some new folks moved in area as well & got tired of him riding on private unposted property. 

He should get his license suspended!!!!!

Not sure if @jstone  was saying your guy should get his license suspended @dfresh96  or if he was saying the OP should get his license suspended. 

I probably jumped the gun...
Its good to know that wdfw reviews infractions & such often, & can hold repeat offenders responsible weather its minor or major.   

[bigtex]

I want to jump in here because people keep throwing out the term "infraction" when they should be saying "violation."

An "infraction" is actually a classification of a violation. Similar to how a misdemeanor or a felony is a classification of a violation.

Example: If you are fishing without a license you are actually committing a misdemeanor not an  infraction.

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[Sandberm]

Laws should be common sense written down. Over complexity of laws sets up a "gotcha" feeling and resentment towards the system.

I ride my motorcycle around the farm and ON the county roads around the farm with no helmet. The roads are NOT heavily traveled, it isnt like I'm riding down the freeway or in downtown. I'm making a living here, paying taxes, acting responsibly, being a good neighbor. I've been doing this for 35+ years and if I get a chicken bleep ticket for not wearing a helmet I will take it to court.

I feel a lot of "gotcha" in the amount of paperwork I have to carry in order to hunt/fish/explore outdoors. A discovery pass, which is invariably always in the "other rig" when I show up at the trailhead etc.  Northwest forest pass(which is also in the other rig/backpack), Fishing and hunting license with the right tag/punchcard, duck stamp, ..."Of crap, why did I grab the box of shotgun shells with lead?"

I can not seem to remember to renew my boat registration for some reason. "Oh yeah, thats right I took the life lackets out the other day when I was cleaning the truck/boat" as i sit at the launch after driving an hour to get to the lake/river with no life jackets.

Yea, yea I know..."Sandberm you sound like you are forgetful more then anything else". Too much crap going on in my brain to pay attention to all the details I guess. Rant over, carryon.

[pianoman9701]

Laws should be common sense written down. Over complexity of laws sets up a "gotcha" feeling and resentment towards the system.

I ride my motorcycle around the farm and ON the county roads around the farm with no helmet. The roads are NOT heavily traveled, it isnt like I'm riding down the freeway or in downtown. I'm making a living here, paying taxes, acting responsibly, being a good neighbor. I've been doing this for 35+ years and if I get a chicken bleep ticket for not wearing a helmet I will take it to court.

I feel a lot of "gotcha" in the amount of paperwork I have to carry in order to hunt/fish/explore outdoors. A discovery pass, which is invariably always in the "other rig" when I show up at the trailhead etc.  Northwest forest pass(which is also in the other rig/backpack), Fishing and hunting license with the right tag/punchcard, duck stamp, ..."Of crap, why did I grab the box of shotgun shells with lead?"

I can not seem to remember to renew my boat registration for some reason. "Oh yeah, thats right I took the life lackets out the other day when I was cleaning the truck/boat" as i sit at the launch after driving an hour to get to the lake/river with no life jackets.

Yea, yea I know..."Sandberm you sound like you are forgetful more then anything else". Too much crap going on in my brain to pay attention to all the details I guess. Rant over, carryon.

It's interesting that some people never violate the laws and others do and then some blame LE for the ticket. Are the F&G laws complicated? Yes. Can you figure them out if you're literate and take the time to do so? Yes. Will the WDFW answer questions over the phone or in person about ambiguous or confusing regs and wording? Yes. Can the Game officers issue a warning? On some things, yes. Is it their fault when they give you a ticket instead of a warning? No. I'm sorry for the OP's experience and hope his license privileges are returned to him by going to court.

[Bob33]

Perhaps there is an exception, but LEOs don’t write and enact laws. No LEO decided lead shot should be illegal for waterfowl. No LEO decided a Discover Pass is required to access DNR land. LEOs didn’t make helmet laws.

LEOs are charged with enforcing laws they didn’t have any part of creating. It’s their duty and obligation to enforce them, with some discretion allowed in certain instances. If they don’t enforce the laws that were written by someone else, even if they don’t agree with them, they are derelict in their duties.

I have no doubt some LEOs are heavy handed. I can honestly say that I don’t recall ever meeting one in a span of many decades of hunting and fishing in Washington, other states, and other countries. Maybe I’m lucky; I don’t know.

When the number of some game animals killed illegally is estimated to be the same as those killed legally, it’s understandable that some LEO encounters may appear to be harsh but that’s doesn’t mean they weren’t justified.