Post by: bigtex on January 27, 2015, 11:20:55 PM
(1) A person commits the crime of interference with agricultural production if the person knowingly:
(a) Is not employed by an agricultural production facility and enters an agricultural production facility by theft, force, threat, misrepresentation, or trespass;
(2)
(b)"Agricultural production facility" means any structure or land, whether privately or publicly owned, leased or operated, that is being used for agricultural production.
(3) A person found guilty of committing the crime of interference with agricultural production is guilty of a gross misdemeanor as defined in RCW 9A.20.021.
Current state law says criminal trespass 2nd degree (trespassing on land) is a misdemeanor. The infamous hunting while trespass law is a misdemeanor. But under this bill trespass on land used for agricultural production is a gross misdemeanor.
DNR leases land to farmers for agricultural purposes. Under state law these leases cannot prohibit access for hunting/fishing except for fire reasons or another reason approved by DNR. But this bill includes publicly owned agricultural land as part of a "agricultural production facility."
The bill is sponsored by Representatives Schmick, Wilcox, Haler, Robinson, and Buys. All are republicans except Robinson.
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1104.pdf (http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1104.pdf)
Post by: Sitka_Blacktail on January 28, 2015, 01:20:34 AM
Post by: Knocker of rocks on January 28, 2015, 06:17:55 AM
Post by: Jingles on January 28, 2015, 06:39:00 AM
How about passing this
NO New Laws will be passed if there is already a law on the books regarding that subject
Post by: SCRUBS on January 28, 2015, 06:46:57 AM
And these dirtbags in Olympia get paid to sit around and dream up some of this schit, then Want pay more when the regular session ends and they haven't done anything...
How about passing this
NO New Laws will be passed if there is already a law on the books regarding that subject
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Post by: lokidog on January 28, 2015, 08:20:08 AM
Personally, I don't think they should be able to post AT ALL. Every piece of leased "farm" land I have seen has been posted (I'm sure there are osme that are not, but my experience as a visiting eastsider has been this). If there are No Tresspassing signs on it, how does one know if it has been "approved" by DNR or just posted because they want to? Unless you are excessively damaging the crop (not including walking through) or damaging equipment, it should be accessible.
Post by: bigtex on January 28, 2015, 08:55:26 AM
Not sure if those issues are even occurring. :dunno:
But we all know there is already a trespass law, so I am not sure why this additional is needed.
Post by: Knocker of rocks on January 28, 2015, 09:20:24 AM
There's other provisions of the bill that I can kind of understand. Such as a provision against filming or recording farm activities on farm land without permission. Secretly working for another business and seeking employment with the farm.
Not sure if those issues are even occurring. :dunno:
But we all know there is already a trespass law, so I am not sure why this additional is needed.
More Ag-gag.
These laws will probably be tossed out in the next couple of years
Post by: bigtex on January 28, 2015, 08:57:03 PM
DNR leases land to farmers for agricultural purposes. Under state law these leases cannot prohibit access for hunting/fishing except for fire reasons or another reason approved by DNR. But this bill includes publicly owned agricultural land as part of a "agricultural production facility."I know of some DNR land that is leased that isn't illegally posted. Problem comes to enforcement. DNR isn't out looking around to make sure that their leased land isn't posted. It is actually part of the application process that potential leases are told they aren't allowed to prevent access.
Personally, I don't think they should be able to post AT ALL. Every piece of leased "farm" land I have seen has been posted (I'm sure there are osme that are not, but my experience as a visiting eastsider has been this). If there are No Tresspassing signs on it, how does one know if it has been "approved" by DNR or just posted because they want to? Unless you are excessively damaging the crop (not including walking through) or damaging equipment, it should be accessible.
Post by: lokidog on January 28, 2015, 10:23:44 PM
Looks like you finally found one that 100% of us can agree on though (at least us who voted). :chuckle:
Post by: JimmyHoffa on January 30, 2015, 06:24:39 PM