Doug, now don't be gun shy. I understand your point about laws applying equally to all, but try and look at it this way. Law enforcement officers are given a fair amount of discretion on how they treat situations that they run into in the field If they carved a ticket for every single violation that they saw, they'd have to wear backpacks to carry the extra ticket books. Just sit at any stoplight in any city for 5 minutes.

'Some' officers out there look at the intent of the person. Is the guy out there helping his son or daughter and trying to get the kid involved in fishing, or are they some meat hungry slob trying to bend the rules? Would you think that the two situations differ, and would you want the officer to have some leeway in how they approach each individual situation? I know I would. (I am not calling guides or their clients meat hungry slobs, so please settle down.)

Look at it another way. You are going down the highway, pulling your boat trailer, but one of the taillights is out. You get pulled over and the officer lets you know that there is a problem. He has every right to carve you a ticket for faulty equipment, even if it worked when you pulled out of your driveway, but about 95 percent of the time all you will get is a warning.

In some instances the law is black and white, but sometimes it is gray. The police, deputies and gamies enforce the law. Judges interpret the law. If you have a problem with a ticket, fight it. Explain the circumstances. The judges and juries also have the ability to interpret the meaning of your actions, and may dismiss the charge.

I don't mean to speak for all law enforcement officers out there, but knowing a number of them has taught me 'some' of their thought processes.

Sorry for all of the disclaimers, but I am trying not to offend anyone. I already went there once. Andy