Posted by shark-92107 on November 23, 2002 at 15:28:54:
In Reply to: Re: good job msblucow posted by Steve on November 23, 2002 at 07:10:52:
DFG does not control whether Fish & Game Code violations are prosecuted in the criminal court system, what the actual charges will be, or what penalties will be requested. That's up to the local prosecutor (the city attorney or the district attorney, depending on location). For a number of reasons, F&G cases sometimes don't get treated all that seriously (i.e., "what's the big deal, it was only a few lobsters"). For example, the first time a San Diego poacher was caught (he had about 90 mostly short lobsters taken in a marine reserve), he got a modest fine, some community service, but no jail time. It did not deter him from poaching. E-mails or letters to the local prosecutor handling the case tend to result in more vigorous prosecution and stiffer penalties.