Fishing W/O licenes ticket

[gsc686s]

So abut a month ago I lost my hat (with licens attached) while fishing a tournament. About 12:00 Fish and Game comes by and gives me a ticket. My carbon copy was aslo attached to my hat so NO I do not have it.

Fine is $440.00 should I go to court and plead with the judge and show them my past two years licenes or will they tack more fines on ??????

[JustinD]

No way.......How did you pay for it....Research thru there....Find the payment at the place you bought it. Go back ask to see the carbon on the book. Something.

[L Dub]

I got caught without my license a few years ago. I jumped through the hoops with the court and almost plead no contest to the offense to which the judge only knocked $25 off my ticket. I ended up asking for a trial over it and when I got there the cop ended up waiving the ticket.

That said, go to the judge and bring all of your old licenses and beg. He might discount some money but don't count on a whole lot of leniency. Take this route if you're willing to put in the time, otherwise save yourself the trouble and pay the ticket.

Note: I was lucky in that the cop was a pretty nice guy and I ended up talking to him for about an hour when he caught me. I think that's why he managed to 'forget' the incident. If you don't think your officer would be willing to do it, don't bother.

Hope this helps.

Tight lines,

L

[TWinger]

If you call the court and ask to challenge the ticket by written submission, some courts will allow for this because it saves court time and the judge can read the officers statement and your submitted statement and then make an independant decision.

The written submission should be done in a professional presentation form, if you can't do it without typo's, good sentance structure, etc have it done by someone. The more professional the better. Keep to the point, don't make judgement statements etc, Just the Facts. Include all the facts in chronological order so it is clear enough for someone with an 8th grade level to understand. Submit your photo copies of payment and copy of license etc. Give it a try, most times the court will not ask the officer for anything more then the details on the back of his citation. If there are none you have got it beat right there. In any event, your details will be more then there's. Everyone I have suggested this to has had a positive end result. Dismissal. If for some reason it does not work out, you can always appeal the decision and have a jury trial.

This can also work for traffic tickets as well.

[bassn182]

I got a ticket about 2 weeks ago for the same thing and the judge ended up knocking off $100. Get this though.. I found this company called Licensed 2 Fish (www.licensed2fish.com) and if you become a member, they cover most citations issued by the DFG. I contaced them and they told me they will cover up to $1000. I think you have to become a member BEFORE receiving a citation.. bummer! haha

[DL]

Since your going to need a new license anyway, buy your replacement license before you appear in court. If the court allows you to contest it by mail, make a copy of the new license and put in the letter.

This happened to me years ago(I had no license at all) and the fine was $645. I appeared with my license in hand and the judge reduced the fine to $75. Unfortunately you are at the mercy of the court. Good luck..

And next time, leave your carbon copy in the truck

[Chaozu]

ALWAYS put the carbon copy somewhere safe. If you get a ticket for not having your license, you can go to court and show that you were a licensed fisherman at the time of the incident (your license should have the date when you purchased it) Then it should be no issue at all. California is hurting pretty bad for money right now but I think they would drop the charge or at least reduce it significantly if you can prove you are a licensed fisherman and accidentally forgot that day.

[acm95301]

I would pay it, the law currently requires possession...you no possess it.

I lost my license twice this year, but had the carbon the first time. I've never lost a license ever before this year. Had my PFD attached the boat and the license flew out of the licence holder...ugh.

[WishinIwerFishin]

Buy a new license, and no you don't have to pay full price again. The stores have an affidavit you fill out stating you already purchased a license this year and you will only have to pay $7, maybe more I havent hade to to it since year before last. After doing that you bassicaly have your original license by signing the affidavit. The law does say the license needs to be in possesion but if you have one and just don't have it on you then you dont owe the full fine ammount. I have seen this happen a few times in court and guys usualy get off with a $50-$75 fine in the end. Just my $0.02, but I wouldn't just sit back and let the state take almost $500 from me if I payed almost $60 for a fishing license already.

[cib11b]

This situation make me think.. I get a disabled veteran lisenc I only pay $6.25 but It is a piece of card paper with a stamp.. I dont get a carbon copy.. But I get it through fish and game.. Wonder if I could get some kind of paper stating I have one I could keep in my wallet..

[acm95301]

Another bummer thing is that the Delta stamp and two rod stamp have to be re-purchaced.

[Rattletrapp]

Lets learn from this guy's mistake. KEEP YOUR CARBON COPY AT HOME!! Sorry for stating the obvious.

[Dan Stahlman]

Go to a copying machine and make a copy of it to keep in your walet. At least this way you have proof you had it before you lost it.

[201Pro]

I got a ticket a couple of years back ... the license was in my tackle bag but the DF&G had no time for it. Wrote me up ... I went to court and told the judge. He told me it MUST BE ON MY PERSON ... reduced the fine to $100!

In today's economic situation, I'd be surprise if they reduce ANYTHING!! Good luck.

[Smitty_dennis]

I forgot my license one time and I had my carbon copy in my wallet. I produce it to the Officer, who politely told show me that the carbon copy says in not a license. I agreed and told him I had purchased one and forgot to bring it, definitely my fault. He wrote on my carbon copy that I had used it for a license on "so and so" date and let me go. Keep them seperate, saves you a few pennies when you loose your license too.

[Burke]

About 40 years ago, when I was a teenager, I was fishing with a couple of friends from the shore at a slough in the middle of nowhere. This guy dressed in fishing clothes approached our group and started to talk to us. One of my friends suddenly decided to make a run to a store which was at least 10 miles away.

After a minute or two of talking, this stranger turned out to be a game warden and checked all of us for our fishing licenses. We all had our licenses and were okay. When our friend returned from the store, he told us that he didn't have his license and figured out that the guy was a game warden so that's why he left. The game warden tracked him all the way to the store and wrote him a citation.

[DeltaDan]

I carry my personal CA Fishing Lisccence on my wallet 365 days of the year.

If I get a ticket for not having it displayed ....... I will point them to the fish and mammal Rapers that is already going on in Dutch Sl. for breaking MANY LAWS already !!


It is sick out there - And I understand that you got cought with your pants down on a FREAK OF NATURE in the CA DFG tickiting you.... but that is why each liscence comes with a Carbon Copy -- Put the carbon copy in your safe/sock drawer as soon as you get home from it's original purchase for times like these.


Apparently the current law was supposed to be repealed this year for having it publicly displayed ..... But I have not heard anything on in so-for this year in Gov. Arnies pencil whipping's from last night.

Other than us gun owners are now screwed aig time for ammpo unless we wish to get fingerprinted - and many will be hitting Reno now for just an ammo run alone. (And that all of my reloading equipment just went up in price - along with my current supplies )

[Steve45]

Wearing your license law I believe has been reversed and by the 1st of Jan 2010 you will no longer have to wear on your person your license, I know this doesn't help the situation right now but I was reading an article in the WON newspaper and it was because of situations like hats being lost and license coming off after pinned on that helped change the desision that has been with us since 1994. Steve

[twister]

I know its water under the bridge now but I and everyone in my club keeps their license in their wallet. Its funny because two of the members are DFG. I just got so sick of losing my license when I wore it around my neck. I think me and some of you guys need to have a tatoo of it. Fishaholics!