HB 1261 Would Increase Penalty for Failing to Report Harvest from $10 to $20

[bigtex]

Pretty simple bill. Title says it all. Fail to submit your harvest report and the administrative fine will be $20 instead of the current $10. Bill's sponsor is Brad Klippert (R.)

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/1261%20HBA%20RDAN%2021.pdf?q=20210122124322

[Skyvalhunter]

So whats the percentage of hunters that do it now? Is there something driving this besides money

[pianoman9701]

Probably to eliminate non-reporting altogether. I've never paid a fine for that. I don't know anyone who has.

[fowl smacker]

I don't understand why you just wouldn't report it.   They use the info to set the # of tags available for certain units and could be beneficial to your unit to report.

[bigtex]

I don't understand why you just wouldn't report it.   They use the info to set the # of tags available for certain units and could be beneficial to your unit to report.

Laziness

[bigtex]

So whats the percentage of hunters that do it now? Is there something driving this besides money

The fiscal note for the bill is being drawn up now. Once it's published I will provide it. It will include how many people are currently being fined for not submitting.

[Dhoey07]

I'm actually behind this, surprised myself a bit.  IF it gives them better information, and IF that information goes to good use, then it has my support. 

[headshot5]

The information is only as honest as the people reporting it.      Probably a lot of info submitted that isn't entirely based on facts. 

[msg]

I believe the 10$ is added in with the next years license and tag purchases. By the time you buy for multiple animals in multiple ways, most people do not even notice.

[Platensek-po]

The information is only as honest as the people reporting it.      Probably a lot of info submitted that isn't entirely based on facts.

Yeah I know some guys who would almost always lie on those reports. Didn’t want more people coming to their units.

[full choke]

I was incorrectly charged the $10 three separate times. I reported, on time, each and every time. Yet, the following year when I went to purchase my license I had an additional $10 added for failure to report. Pretty difficult to dispute at the time.

[rtspring]

FAKE NEWS!  These reports are not true information!!   

[Skyvalhunter]

I don't lie on mine it seems your only hurting the hunting community

[follow maggie]

I was fined a couple times when I did file my reports, on time. The second time I declined to buy licenses & never hunted big game in Washington again. It’s what finally made me have enough & start hunting other states.

[ne kid]

  I've been fined twice when I have sent in reports. I will not send mine in this year due to not ever buying a license again.

[pianoman9701]

I don't understand why you just wouldn't report it.   They use the info to set the # of tags available for certain units and could be beneficial to your unit to report.

Laziness

Some people are busy and just forget, I'm sure.

[The scout]

I’ve been given the fine at least 2 yrs when I for sure reported. It’s just a money grab anyway, unless the shape that are herds are in dire straights because not enough people report, but that can’t be because it’s the climate change 

[Special T]

So whats the percentage of hunters that do it now? Is there something driving this besides money

The fiscal note for the bill is being drawn up now. Once it's published I will provide it. It will include how many people are currently being fined for not submitting.

Who receives the $? Wdfw, general fund or?

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[Special T]

I can tell you that  i have missplaced my snow goose card, and my kids crab cards always seem to disapear.  Ive resorted to taking a pic of them so i at least have the report code and usually know exactly how many and where they were harvested anyway.

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[Widgeondeke]

I paid once for not reporting salmon catch card. Never even fished for them and forgot I had one.

[Slenk]

Idaho is starting the same program. Just so you know.

[Gobble Gobble]

I always report after the close of the season because I don't want the fine or to forget. Occasionally, I'll even check the WDFW website to make sure my profile shows that I have reported and that my "submitted" status hasn't changed. I don't trust the WDFW not to say I didn't submit when I know I did. Case in point previous posts of people saying they have been fined on more than one occasion when they know they have submitted.

[M_ray]

I was fined a couple times when I did file my reports, on time. The second time I declined to buy licenses & never hunted big game in Washington again. It’s what finally made me have enough & start hunting other states.

This! It’s happened to me their story (Wdfw) is the site crashed. They weren’t interested in the information they just want the money.

I suspect the reason this politician wants to increase it is because it goes to general fund and this is a way of grabbing more money from the people because it prob happens more than you think. No way in one year would clerical costs double.

[pianoman9701]

I was fined a couple times when I did file my reports, on time. The second time I declined to buy licenses & never hunted big game in Washington again. It’s what finally made me have enough & start hunting other states.

This! It’s happened to me their story (Wdfw) is the site crashed. They weren’t interested in the information they just want the money.

I suspect the reason this politician wants to increase it is because it goes to general fund and this is a way of grabbing more money from the people because it prob happens more than you think. No way in one year would clerical costs double.

Did either of you request and/or receive your money back?

[M_ray]

I was fined a couple times when I did file my reports, on time. The second time I declined to buy licenses & never hunted big game in Washington again. It’s what finally made me have enough & start hunting other states.

This! It’s happened to me their story (Wdfw) is the site crashed. They weren’t interested in the information they just want the money.

I suspect the reason this politician wants to increase it is because it goes to general fund and this is a way of grabbing more money from the people because it prob happens more than you think. No way in one year would clerical costs double.

Did either of you request and/or receive your money back?

  Not sure what you mean? you dont get to request your money back they dont issue you a license unless you pay the fine??? I refused and didnt buy or put in for Wa in 2019

[Karl Blanchard]

So I always write down the confirmation numbers of my reports. 2 years ago I got popped and I went strutting into fish and game with my notes ready to get the fine dropped. Long story short, an hour of negotiations and a call to Olympia and my confirmation numbers were completely pointless and I got to fork out my $10. I almost just walked away from WA hunting altogether at that point. I still get furious just thinking about it.  I screen shot them now and I am firmly against this proposal!!!

[TheSkyBuster]

 I paid $20 in 2017 for not reporting in 2016 even though I did report.  Eventually I was refunded $10 of the $20.

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,214568.msg2856998.html#msg2856998

[bigtex]

So whats the percentage of hunters that do it now? Is there something driving this besides money

The fiscal note for the bill is being drawn up now. Once it's published I will provide it. It will include how many people are currently being fined for not submitting.

Who receives the $? Wdfw, general fund or?

I suspect the reason this politician wants to increase it is because it goes to general fund and this is a way of grabbing more money from the people because it prob happens more than you think. No way in one year would clerical costs double.

The money goes to the wildlife fund.

[chukarchaser]

Just another way to shaft hunters.  Why with all the scrap going on in the last year would they think to do this.  Oh yah because they do not care thats why. 

[M_ray]

So whats the percentage of hunters that do it now? Is there something driving this besides money

The fiscal note for the bill is being drawn up now. Once it's published I will provide it. It will include how many people are currently being fined for not submitting.

Who receives the $? Wdfw, general fund or?

I suspect the reason this politician wants to increase it is because it goes to general fund and this is a way of grabbing more money from the people because it prob happens more than you think. No way in one year would clerical costs double.

The money goes to the wildlife fund.

Thanks for that I wasn’t sure. I just figured either way it’s all about the money.
Regardless no way the costs to dole out a penalty double in one year unless you are just looking to screw hunters out of more dough.

[bigtex]

The fiscal note for this bill has been published. WDFW currently sees approximately a 40% noncompliance rate when it comes to reporting hunting tags.

It should be noted that under the current law only those who fail to report and purchase a tag the following year are fined the $10. So if you fail to report your 2019 deer tag and buy a 2020 deer tag you are fined $10, but if you don't buy a deer tag in 2020 but do buy a deer tag in 2021 you are not fined. This bill will change this loophole and you would be fined $20 in the next year you buy the same tag.

In 2020 WDFW received $576,310 in fines for failing to report tags. WDFW assumes that increasing the fine amount will lead to better compliance, however closing the aforementioned loophole will also increase the amount of fines collected. It is believed this bill will lead to an additional $457,000 given to WDFW via the administrative fines.

[ne kid]

I'm sure the extra money will be put to good use. LOL

[Jingles]

I'm sure the extra money will be put to good use. LOL

Yea so they can buy up more land and post it authorized vehicles only  yet allow skinney skier groomers to groom trails

[Karl Blanchard]

Once again....Absolutely not!!!! Until they can accurately track it and be accountable, Absolutely not!!!

[fishngamereaper]

They need to fix the system first. I guess maybe no one has fought the fine but it would seem pretty easy to do based on the chronic issues that seem to plague the reporting system.

I've been charged a couple times since they implemented the fine and Im religious about reporting. It's also happened with crab catch records. 

I find it hard to believe that only 6 out of 10 hunter's report.
And how in the heck do they come up with harvest stats and set seasons with that low percentage of reporting... something doesn't add up.

[Karl Blanchard]

  I literally had all my confirmation numbers from my reports and they wouldn't wave it. They've lost a good amount of money from that $10 fine as I continue to scale back on tags and apps family wide.

[Special T]

I literally had all my confirmation numbers from my reports and they wouldn't wave it. They've lost a good amount of money from that $10 fine as I continue to scale back on tags and apps family wide.

If you had conformation numbers and they didnt take care of it that is BS!

[fishngamereaper]

I literally had all my confirmation numbers from my reports and they wouldn't wave it. They've lost a good amount of money from that $10 fine as I continue to scale back on tags and apps family wide.

Yup .
I screenshot my reports but unfortunately the poor gals at the local sportsman's don't have a say in it.. computer tells them to charge the fine...and who has the time to call wdfw and try and fight the fine...

Well, I guess I do now if it happens again...

[KFhunter]

I wonder if its my cougar tag doing it, I hold that open (unreported) way after I have bought my licenses for tbe following year cause I'm still hunting it.

And they ding me that 10 bux religiously

So done with this state, guess I'll report cougar with the rest of my tags

"Did not hunt"  save me 20 bux

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[Special T]

I wonder if its my cougar tag doing it, I hold that open (unreported) way after I have bought my licenses for tbe following year cause I'm still hunting it.

And they ding me that 10 bux religiously

So done with this state, guess I'll report cougar with the rest of my tags

"Did not hunt"  save me 20 bux

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Cat tags do not have mandatory reporting because they require pelt sealing

[bbarnes]

Most hunters don't turn in there reports in the corect GMU anywaY.Hunters don't want others to read the units the most wildlife is being harvested it FLOODS the GMU with hunters FYI!!!!!

[JimmyHoffa]

I wonder if its my cougar tag doing it, I hold that open (unreported) way after I have bought my licenses for tbe following year cause I'm still hunting it.

And they ding me that 10 bux religiously

So done with this state, guess I'll report cougar with the rest of my tags

"Did not hunt"  save me 20 bux

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Cat tags do not have mandatory reporting because they require pelt sealing

Changed last year or maybe the year before.  Pelt sealing is for the successful.  The harvest reports get data like GMU and days of effort even for the unsuccessful.