Hope they hit this guy hard and throw the book at him.

[Buckshot Bill]

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

January 26, 2010

Contact: Sgt. Eric Anderson, WDFW (360) 902-2426
             Michael Boska, Kittitas County Prosecutor’s Office, (509) 962-7064

Arrest warrant issued in zebra mussel case

OLYMPIA - An arrest warrant has been issued for a commercial trucker from Michigan charged with transporting invasive zebra mussels into Washington state aboard a 50-foot cabin cruiser.

David Derderian, 44, of Fraser, Michigan, was charged in Kittitas County Lower District Court last November with unlawful transportation of a deleterious exotic species and making false statements to law enforcement officers.

The court issued a warrant for Derderian’s arrest when he failed to appear for his arraignment Jan. 13, said Michael Boska, deputy prosecutor for Kittitas County. 

"We appreciate the court’s help on this case," said Bruce Bjork, chief of enforcement for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), which sought the initial charges against Derderian.  "We need to do everything we can to keep zebra mussels and other invasive species out of this state."

Zebra mussels are small, freshwater mollusks that can quickly infest lakes and rivers, threatening native fish species and public water systems, Bjork said.  Since the 1980s, when zebra mussels entered the Great Lakes in ships’ ballast water, they have spread to more than 20 states, including Michigan.

The invasive mussels often spread by attaching themselves to boats and trailers. Washington state law prohibits the transportation of aquatic invasive species on boats or trailers and allows state authorities to stop them for inspection.

The charges against Derderian stem from the delivery of a Sea Ray cabin cruiser from Lake Michigan to Washington.  Derderian was hauling the boat when he was stopped Nov. 14 by the Washington State Patrol at the Cle Elum truck scale on Interstate 90.   

State Patrol commercial vehicle officers found zebra mussels on the boat and alerted WDFW, which has special equipment to decontaminate boats carrying zebra mussels.  But Derderian left with the boat and continued to Blaine before the WDFW officers could arrive at the scene, according to the department’s report.   

Bjork said WDFW officers later intercepted Derderian in Blaine and stopped him from launching the boat.  Based on Derderian’s statements and actions, they then asked the Kittitas County Prosecutor’s Office to press charges. 

WDFW has also referred the case to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service for consideration of federal charges for interstate transport of the invasive mussels, which would be a violation of the Lacey Act.     

"We are pressing for federal charges in this case," Bjork said.  "It’s essential that we have people’s cooperation in our efforts to keep zebra mussels and other invasive species out of Washington.  Besides the risks to fish and shellfish, these invaders have already cost industry, government and private citizens billions of dollars in damage to water and hydropower facilities in this country."

For information on zebra mussels, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/ on WDFW's website. To report zebra mussel sightings, call 1(877) WDFW-AIS.

 

[high country]

you don't want to mess with the lacey act!

dude would have likely been fine if he would have let them decon the boat......what a fool.

[Grizzly95]

Was he just a transporter or the actual owner of the boat? Sounds like he ignored the WSP and deserves punishment. Are there postings at the scales to make truck drivers aware of this? Not trying to pass the blame just curious.

[jeepasaurusrex]

The boat was not decontaminated.

State Patrol commercial vehicle officers found zebra mussels on the boat and alerted WDFW, which has special equipment to decontaminate boats carrying zebra mussels.  But Derderian left with the boat and continued to Blaine before the WDFW officers could arrive at the scene, according to the department’s report.

[runamuk]

you don't want to mess with the lacey act!

dude would have likely been fine if he would have let them decon the boat......what a fool.

The boat was decontaminated you ass! Now that you've opened your mouth before you know even one fact i can say with confidence that your a moron.  WITH A GUN no less.

so this was your boat I take it? since nowhere in the article does it say the boat was already decontaminated  

[WAcoyotehunter]

That could have cost Washington state millions...sadly, it's only a matter of time.

[bearpaw]

you don't want to mess with the lacey act!

dude would have likely been fine if he would have let them decon the boat......what a fool.

This is true, most of all, those things will never be eradicated once they get here....

[6x6in6]

Hmmmmm............
http://www.drdmotorsports.net/

[Curly]

http://www.drdmotorsportssucks.com/

Hmmmmmm..........

[BlackRidge]

Wow, glad they caught the fool

My question is, did he 'flee' the weight station in Cle Elum, or was he allowed to leave?

[6x6in6]

LMAO

[300UltraMagShooter]

he might have been use to living in a free state where they can't make a law to pull you over without cause.



I say we just get it over with....  we should just let LEOs pull people over whenever they want to check to make sure you havn't kidnapped anyone, robbed anyone, doing drugs, slapped your momma, driving tired, or been hunting out of season...  sure could think of plenty more reasons but fingers would get tired....

 

[fair-chase]

From drd's website:

We are professional, reliable, and courteous

So what happened with your first post drd. It doesn't resemble any of those things.

The boat was decontaminated you ass! Now that you've opened your mouth before you know even one fact i can say with confidence that your a moron.  WITH A GUN no less.

[sisu]

Was he just a transporter or the actual owner of the boat? Sounds like he ignored the WSP and deserves punishment. Are there postings at the scales to make truck drivers aware of this? Not trying to pass the blame just curious.

He is the hauler not the owner but he was told to stay and he did not from the way I read this.

[MikeWalking]

Wow, glad they caught the fool

My question is, did he 'flee' the weight station in Cle Elum, or was he allowed to leave?

He may have been more concerned with making his delivery on time, sounds like his Boss isn't a real good guy. I'd guess he just sneaked out.

He wasn't pulled over without cause. A regular inspection at the Scales found the mussels.

Isn't there already a problem with these in South Puget Sound?

[6x6in6]

This guys a real tool. 
And to use his business name as his sign in is really brilliant of him.
With a reputation like that, I know I'd want my junk hidden from Google. 

[6x6in6]

Wow, glad they caught the fool

My question is, did he 'flee' the weight station in Cle Elum, or was he allowed to leave?

He may have been more concerned with making his delivery on time, sounds like his Boss isn't a real good guy. I'd guess he just sneaked out.

He wasn't pulled over without cause. A regular inspection at the Scales found the mussels.

Isn't there already a problem with these in South Puget Sound?

The boss was the driver.

[WAcoyotehunter]

those websites are classic... 

[cwuwildcat]

What cracks me up is that he somehow ran across this post, and felt the urge to post.  He must have run across it googling his own name, and got pissed at.  What a *censored*!

[dscubame]

Way to funny.  I am going to contact him via his website and inquire how he would handle zebra mussels if I wanted my boat transported from zebra infested waters.

[high country]

http://www.drdmotorsportssucks.com/

Hmmmmmm..........

puts a lot of light on the old, "know thy enemy".....lol