It's not worth it to poach....

[mark71211]

http://touch.capitalgazette.com/#section/6915/article/p2p-83326048/
.....And I feel it's does not fine enough either. I think they all got off easy and it cost the state more just to go after poachers then the fines they are getting.

 

[zoostation]

Gibson Island. Land of the Uber-Rich. One way in other than by boat, access limited to residents and guests only, and they have their own police department manning the bridge.

 

[justsand]

sounds like they got off easy

 

[BlackBart]

Gibson Island. Land of the Uber-Rich. One way in other than by boat, access limited to residents and guests only, and they have their own police department manning the bridge.

Chump change to those guys............. judge getting a favor along the line????

 

[traveller]

What a joke. The fines are less than some hunting licenses.

 

[jtb81100]

Definatly got off easy, but the regs they broke a bit arbitrary IMO. Unplugged shotguns are ok for some seasons in some areas. Growing and mowing a crop is ok, but dumping grain isn't. Kind of like having to go over state lines to buy/sell mags that hold more then 10 rounds.

 

[protegeV]

 

[Squaregrouper]

"Forced to donate" is an oxymoron.

 

[Cochise]

It should be loss of gun rights and hunting fishing privileges for life. For a 2nd offence they should get tough.
Poachers should be crab bait

 

[MigraineMan]

Doesn't seem to matter whether licensed or not ....

One of the biggest cases, involving Benjamin Reihl, 27, of Chestertown, who is accused of commercial fishing while his license was revoked, was postponed. Reihl's attorney said Reihl, who has 22 prior natural resources convictions, is appealing the revocation.

As long as the penalties are small enough to be considered "cost of doing business," the revolving door will continue to rotate.

 

[wilcam47]

but if you carried a pistol in MD to protect yourself you'd be in Deep $hit...

 

[traveller]

Doesn't seem to matter whether licensed or not ....


As long as the penalties are small enough to be considered "cost of doing business," the revolving door will continue to rotate.

Commercial poachers like him just have an attorney who keeps delaying the 3 different violations they have cooking at any given time. The one time the game warden doesn't show up because he has real work to do, they get the case dismissed.

I know there are lots of ******** regulations (like the plugged shotgun thing), but if shellfish populations are supposed to recover, people have to adhere to things like not fishing in the refuges.

 

[oupa]

...if one were inclined to violate NR regulations, "DNR Day in Court" seems to provide the best chance to get away with it each month. Just saying.

 

[STeveZ]

Disgusting.

Bait + unplugged shotguns should equal hefty fines, confiscation of gear and extended loss of hunting & fishing privileges.

Commercial poaching should equal jail time.

 

[Vandy]

Disgusting.

Bait + unplugged shotguns should equal hefty fines, confiscation of gear and extended loss of hunting & fishing privileges.

Commercial poaching should equal jail time.

Especially considering he has 22 prior natural resource convictions...who knows how many times he got off the hook.

 

[Mark75H]

He's just a pirate. There's a reason he lives in Chestertown and not Rock Hall

 

[traveller]

He's just a pirate. There's a reason he lives in Chestertown and not Rock Hall

Lol.

 

[Crow Bait]

He's just a pirate. There's a reason he lives in Chestertown and not Rock Hall

Pirates don't like competition?

 

[fabsroman]

Definatly got off easy, but the regs they broke a bit arbitrary IMO. Unplugged shotguns are ok for some seasons in some areas. Growing and mowing a crop is ok, but dumping grain isn't. Kind of like having to go over state lines to buy/sell mags that hold more then 10 rounds.

Not to mention that in Maryland, hunting over bait was a strict liability crime. That means, you did not need to know that you were hunting over bait, you were guilty merely by hunting over a baited field. For instance, go hunting with a buddy that has baited the heck out of a pond, with no idea that there is bait at the bottom of the pond, and you were guilty.

The law was changed this past session such that based upon the circumstances, a reasonable person would know that he/she is hunting over bait.

Also, I have gotten clients off of assault with lower fines than most of those people received, and about the same amount of community service. Cheaper to punch a human in the face than it is to hunt with an unplugged gun, hunt over bait, etc.

I am not an advocate of poaching or breaking any of the game laws. However, things are a little screwed up when people get less of a punishment for crimes against people versus hunting with an unplugged shotgun.

 

[rico903]

Yeah, the revolving door criminal system keeps the lawyers employed. Not that many poachers to feed the system. About 35 years ago a friend was dove hunting. One he never found so shot another to limit out. DNR was watching and charged him with it even though the evidence was never found(dead dove). He lost his Browning Superposed and almost his truck. And all hunting privileges for 5 years and a couple of grand fine and legal fees. One damn expensive little bird.