OUCH
OK the details
If you have ever been through this I feel sorry for you, It was not pleasent.
Because all fish and game tickets are Misdemeanors and jail time can be given,
you must be reprisented by consul even at the first proccedings. Our court appointed attorney prosented us with an offer to plead guilty to fishing without a lic. the court would reduce the ticket to an infraction pay 460.00 plus court cost of 120 percent of the fine. We said no. She then asked us what happened, after we told her the story and explained to her we would take this to a trial if they reduced the fine to one dollar, she said she would go to the DA and see what could be done. When she returned she asked if we still had the declaration form from that day, It was on the boat so we picked it up and returned to court, she gave it to the DA I could hear him (we were sitting just behind him) say this ticket is BS tell them we will dismiss. We waited for maybe 20 min the Judge called us and the DA dismissed. It restores your faith in the system our attorney did care about our case she didn't take his first no as an answer, it worked out great.
Just a reminder, that room was filled with DF ticket holders they are going to try to get us this year and the way the law is written you can not comply. The law says you can not clean fish within 3 mile of shore if you do you must keep the endtrails and dispose of them in a trash can other wise they can site you for illegal dumping. If you clean you mexican fish on your boat at all its illegal. Remember the whole skin must be left on your US fish.
I guess I will do what Jeff does with his rock fish, I will gut them take them home to finish cleaning. DF is planning on makeing visits to our home to check frezzers at least thats what they told us. If they do we will all be in trouble I would guess.
Russ
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