bull #@%& fishing ticket

[c17Lat]

So I was fishing after class today at ithaca falls in NY. I was using an inline spinner. An officer was checking fishing licences. He checked mine then asked to see what lure I was using. I gave it to him, and he told me I can't use hooks with more than one point on them (inline spinners have treble hooks). So he asks me a few questions, takes my treble hook and writes me a ticket, and tells me I have to show up in court april 30. He also said if i don't show, there will be a warrant out for my arrest. I don't understand? this ridiculous!! apparently there is a 1/4 mile stretch out of the whole entire creek where this rule is in effect, but I can't find anything about it in the fishing regs book!! So now i have to miss class in order to go to court for fishing with a treble hook!!!

[iceintheveins]

That is indeed bull crap. Take the rule book with you and show the judge or the DA. The case will likely be dismissed if the rule is no where to be found in the book.

[iceintheveins]

I got a ticket once for "fishing with three lines" because I touched another tip up that my brother was using. I showed up for the court hearing and the DA dismissed it as frivolous. It would have been a $68 dollar fine otherwise. The warden who ticketed me has a reputation for harassing people and even once gave a disabled old man a ticket for "fishing three rods" because he helped his granddaughter reel in a fish.

[surfer]

Is there a reference number to the rule / code that states single hooks only on the ticket?  

It kinda sounds like a guy impersonating an officer.  Why would anyone need to show up in court for such a minor infraction?  Speeding tickets don't require a court appearance.

[NBR]

I can't speak for NY but here in NH special stream areas are posted with signage on trees or posts. You might want to check before you make your case.

[Matt Fly]

I can't speak for your Game Wardens, in Texas, some GW's cover 3-400 miles by themselves with no back up for hours. They patrol borders and encounter some illegals crossing and smugglers.

One of the most dangerous jobs in Texas.       Sorry for his ticket, but your statement about Barney and Game Wardens are off course.

Hookem

[Tin]

Don't go by the online stuff. You have to go by the rules and regulations booklet that should have come with your fishing license. That is where they will get you. If it isn't listed in there, then you are a free man.

[Fish Man]

Speeding tickets don't require a court appearance.

yea but from what i hear in DE at least, game and wildlife violations are treated as a pretty major crime compared to a traffic violation such as a speeding ticket and never leave your record. but i must agree this is bull that you must go to court for it

[BadKarma42]

First, I think you need to determine if the ticket is in fact B.S. or if you think its B.S. because you got a ticket.

Check your regs book.  Can't find anything?  Walk the stretch with the alleged regulation(s) that you violated.  Look for signs with rules.  Don't see any signs?  Take pictures all along the way.  Take a witness with you.  Look for ways to verify to the Court that your pictures are true and accurate.

Also, there is a chance the fish cop won't even show for the hearing.

[bassnleo]

Bro, I did a quick check of NY regs on-line, I quickly found the reg you were cited for.

I'm assuming you were fishing a Finger Lakes Tributary.

Here's a link to the page on-line:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31417.html

Under the section "Additional Regulations for Finger Lakes Tributaries" it clearly states

4. Use of more than one line with a single hook point is prohibited, except for those stream sections listed below.

It goes on to state exactly where the above rule applies since it does not apply everywhere.

You need to examine your situation closely and determine if you were wrong before you decide to fight the matter in court.

I'm not saying I agree or disagree with your situation since I don't have enough information to make such a judgement.

Best of luck.

[islandbass]

So I was fishing after class today at ithaca falls in NY. I was using an inline spinner. An officer was checking fishing licences. He checked mine then asked to see what lure I was using. I gave it to him, and he told me I can't use hooks with more than one point on them (inline spinners have treble hooks). So he asks me a few questions, takes my treble hook and writes me a ticket, and tells me I have to show up in court april 30. He also said if i don't show, there will be a warrant out for my arrest. I don't understand? this ridiculous!! apparently there is a 1/4 mile stretch out of the whole entire creek where this rule is in effect, but I can't find anything about it in the fishing regs book!! So now i have to miss class in order to go to court for fishing with a treble hook!!!

You will need to check the regs. Many places I fish, trebles are prohibited on non buoyant lures, especially in rivers.

Either way, check the regs. You will then learn if the officer was right or wrong. If he was wrong you won't have to pay. If you are, it's a bummer, but now you know.

Sorry.  In the salt water here, the penalty for using a barbed hook is $75. If you're caught with a treble, that's $225 because there are 3 hooks. :

[Siebert Outdoors]

Here in MO we have some places that are single hook only areas and artificial areas only.  I'm betting the Officer is correct.  In areas that they have single hook rules they patrol very heavily because they know most will not read the regulations.

This is the same about lake fishing.  You are more likely to get checked bank or dock fishing then from a boat.  Why?  Most people that do not buy a license fish from the bank.  Yes its proven and that was straight from a conservation officer I know.

[wagn]

I know that this won't hold up in court, because the law is the law. But doesn't it seem unfair when they place so many different regulations on so many different bodies of water that it becomes hard to even know what the law is? It seems to me that sometimes people should be given the benifit of the doubt.

If i was the warden I would have informed you of the rule, and if i saw you there again doing that I would then have given you a ticket. It just seems like there should be a difference between making a mistake and willfully violating the law.

For example Up here in NH some lakes are electric only, and in the little rule book it says electric only next to each lake that is. But what most people don't know is that there is a link at the bottom of all the lakes with regulations that you need to check to find out what electric only means. Because it means different things on different lakes. Sometimes it means only electric motors on the water you can't even have your gas engine up and out of the lake, and sometimes it doesn't. Oh and sometimes the rules aren't clear. Not even the wardens know how to interpret them sometimes (i know i asked).

To top it all off sometimes the same lake in the book has a different name on the link that you have to referance, and possibly a different name in the atlas that you are using to find lakes. So you may find a lake in an atlas, check in your little book and see no regulations, and check online, and not even know that the lake has another name that makes it a fly fishing pond. how's that for a fun time :

Sorry for the rant, but all the rules drive me crazy. It seems that all most people want to do is fish, and giving them tickets for mistakes is not the point of the laws. If i was a ranger I'd be more concerned with the kids partying on the bank and leaving trash everywhere, then the guy who used the wrong lure by accident

[Tin]

Under the section "Additional Regulations for Finger Lakes Tributaries" it clearly states

4. Use of more than one line with a single hook point is prohibited, except for those stream sections listed below.

It goes on to state exactly where the above rule applies since it does not apply everywhere.

That's worded strange. Sounds like you can't use more than one rod. Or you can't use a 3 way swivel type rig. :-/

Or you can use two rods with single hooked baits or one with more than one. :-/

[c17Lat]

Under the section "Additional Regulations for Finger Lakes Tributaries" it clearly states

4. Use of more than one line with a single hook point is prohibited, except for those stream sections listed below.

It goes on to state exactly where the above rule applies since it does not apply everywhere.

That's worded strange. Sounds like you can't use more than one rod. Or you can't use a 3 way swivel type rig. :-/

Or you can use two rods with single hooked baits or one with more than one. :-/

Yea that is worded strange, and could be taken to mean a lot of different things, but

1. how many people, especially college students like myself, will take the time to read every little detail of a fishing regs book?

2. even if it is an actual fishing rule, i shouldn't have to go to court for something like that.

[iceintheveins]

Most fishing violations are petty offenses or violations at worst. You do have to be careful reading the regs though.

However obey the law, but if you disagree with it, fight for it's repeal while still obeying it while it's in effect.

[HOIST-N-HAWGS]

That's a bummer about having to miss class and go to court. A simple mail-in or warning should have been sufficient.

However, not to sound like a JERK. But I do believe that it is our own responibility to know and follow all the laws dictated in regards to the fisheries and wildlife.

Leasson learned pass it on

Good luck in court and let us know what the outcome was.

Most likely, just a stearn look from the penguin and a short speach about not letting it happen again.

[bassnleo]

Under the section "Additional Regulations for Finger Lakes Tributaries" it clearly states

4. Use of more than one line with a single hook point is prohibited, except for those stream sections listed below.

It goes on to state exactly where the above rule applies since it does not apply everywhere.

That's worded strange. Sounds like you can't use more than one rod. Or you can't use a 3 way swivel type rig. :-/

Or you can use two rods with single hooked baits or one with more than one. :-/

Yea that is worded strange, and could be taken to mean a lot of different things, but

1. how many people, especially college students like myself, will take the time to read every little detail of a fishing regs book?

2. even if it is an actual fishing rule, i shouldn't have to go to court for something like that.

I didn't realize it originally but you are correct, the wording is vague.

As far as having to go to court, it may be something in NY's rules of criminal procedure that require you to go. Are you a NY resident? Sometimes out of state residents have to appear in person maybe?

Just guessing......

[johnkook73]

Like what the others were saying take pictures and do some research to see if the officer was wrong. Sometimes they make mistakes, were all human. Let us know what happens in court.

John

[Shakes]

In November, I went deer hunting with my father in law. It was the first time I had ever been hunting. After the evening hunt on the first night, my father in law and his brother were talking about how many deer come out at night in the fields, and how if you shine your lights on the fields, they all look up and just stand there. They said there were hundreds of 'em. So we went...

No guns were present, and we had no intent of harming any of them. About 5 minutes into the drive, after we had seen a few deer, he shined his lights another field. Conservation comes flyin outta nowhere. Got the blue and reds on like the 5/0. Asked for all ID's and if there were any firearms in the vehicle. Wrote all 3 of us a ticket for $250 each. Had to go to court and everything. Again, this is for shining your lights into a field. :-? Charge was "spotlighting deer without the use of firearms."

[RobbyZ5001]

Another HUGE thing for PA at least is... not all the regs are in the rulebook or net. The wardens have ANOTHER book with MORE rules that we aren't even aware of. I was told this by a guy who was a state cop for 10 years and a game warden for 20 years.

[bigdog]

I know that almost everyone on this forum obey the regs. of there great state.I find it alarming that a few on the forum think it's ok for them to break the laws on places posted no fishing OR not knowing the regulations concerning lures or baits. I give those that do this pratice no symphathy what so ever you deserve what you get for breaking the law.So please with all do respect please stop posting about breaking laws...

[Fish Man]

.I find it alarming that a few on the forum think it's ok for them to break the laws on places posted no fishing OR not knowing the regulations concerning lures or baits. I give those that do this pratice no symphathy what so ever you deserve what you get for breaking the law.

a law is a law and everybody has broken one at one point in time or antoher.

Also everyone makes mistakes with is what seems to be the case with the original poster, so why dont we cut him some slack?

[JayDub]

A lot of these Barney fifes are badge heavy game wardens because they couldn't cut it as real cops. .

I can't speak for your Game Wardens, in Texas, some GW's cover 3-400 miles by themselves with no back up for hours. They patrol borders and encounter some illegals crossing and smugglers.

One of the most dangerous jobs in Texas. Sorry for his ticket, but your statement about Barney and Game Wardens are off course.

Hookem

X2.

I back Matt Fly up 100%. That statement about game wardens not being able to cut it as real cops is incorrect. Atleast in Texas. Our Game Wardens are qualified for their jobs. If I wanted to be a Game Warden I would be getting a Wildlife Bachelors Degree from a accredited university then going through cadet school. If I wanted to be a cop, I would have graduated high school, and headed over to sign up for cadet school.

I'm not saying there aren't some a holes out there, because you will find that in everyjob somewhere, but the guys that complain about them being ridiculous and over enforcing, are the ones that actually are breaking the law, and get ticked because they got caught. Even so, if you didn't know about a law and get caught it's still a crime. If you are going to fish, learn the rules and regulations. Make sure you know them before you fish a body of water.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Another HUGE thing for PA at least is... not all the regs are in the rulebook or net. The wardens have ANOTHER book with MORE rules that we aren't even aware of. I was told this by a guy who was a state cop for 10 years and a game warden for 20 years.

They serve a purpose and believe it or not it is to protect the wildlife that you hold so dear. Ran into trouble before huh? I'm sorry for that, but in my experience if you werent doing something wrong in the first place, its really difficult to get in trouble.

As for the guy who got a ticket above for spotlighting deer during the season....I dont know where you are located, and I dont really think it matters. Spotlighting deer during rifle season is just asking for trouble, and it is MOST DEFINITELY illegal in PA.

I am really surprised at the answers from some of the posters on this thread. Not what I expected to read from some people.....