Originally Posted By: Longie
At some point WDFW needs to look into suspension and confiscation of commercial and sport licenses of willful violators. Until they do crime will pay.

Unintentional violations are going to happen and should be punished as they are now, but the blatant intentional violations need something more severe.

If their licenses were at stake. I bet they wouldn't have had too many pots in the water.



Suspension Procedures in a nutshell as I understand them (clearly subject to adjustment):

Recreational: At a minimum any three strikes in a specific period and you are done; the computer keeps track and you get the notice. Presumably egregious actions could result in one and out.

Commercial: Again, three strikes but they have to be in the same fishery. One egregious violation can result in suspension action but in any case State law requires that there be a Suspension Committee which is made up of five voting members of which three must be holders of commercial fishing licenses. One has to wonder how many commercial licenses have been suspended upon review by this (unbiased) Committee?

And then you have the whole issue of Tribal LE and court systems clearly outside the perview of the State. Since the Feds negotiated the treaties maybe the Feds need to ensure that Tribal governments take the appropriate actions against tribal violators.
_________________________
Remember to immediately record your catch or you may become the catch!

It's the person who has done nothing who is sure nothing can be done. (Ewing)