Overzealous OSP !!!!!!!!!!!

Hoosier Daddy · 08-31-2001, 12:01 PM

Go to the court date. Odds are the judge will agree with you and chuck the case.

fishbait · 08-31-2001, 01:03 PM

RR,

"because of an oversight on my part" Fact was, you did not properly punch your fish. Don't blame the OSP for doing an unpopular job, thats what we pay them for. Yah, I agreee 2-$300 bucks is a little steep. Accept the responsiblilty, try to get the fine lowered, move on and do it right next time....

Chris Nordling · 08-31-2001, 01:45 PM

Ditto to Fishbait. They can't tell you from the next guy who might be trying to cheat the system. Odds are in your favor to have it lowered in court, but you can't blame them for going to work and following their job description. You would think that with the new tags this year, the cadets might relax and just have warned you, but who knows, maybe it was their first day! Better luck next time, and nice job on the fish! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Chris [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Rauly · 08-31-2001, 01:57 PM

You are right we the fisherman pay for our resource. Some pay more than others [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Thanks for your donation Robin. Go to your hearing and I'm sure the Judge will lower the fine. If you need a letter of referance I'll send the Judge a nice letter. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] Say hi to Rod for me. That's got you thinking now doesn't it. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Rauly

ps. sell lots of line holders.

[ 08-31-2001: Message edited by: Rauly ]

Pitch Pocket · 08-31-2001, 03:06 PM

Glad they didn't look at my tag. None of us in the boat had a decoder ring for the location or species. They didn't supply one when we bought our licenses. We just put the date and left the other blank.

What is the code for the lower Columbia and Chinook and Coho?

HOGTIDE · 08-31-2001, 03:55 PM

I think the word "CADET" is key here. I believe most seasoned State Police in F & G Enforcement would have used a bit more discretion. Stupid kid was just stickin' to the book.

Our local officer 'Cogswell' is congenial, genuinely friendly and actually trys to give tips for making your day more successful. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Firedog · 08-31-2001, 04:00 PM

Have to agree with Hogtide, you might of had a chance with a regular officer. You were in the wrong though so go to court and they should reduce it if your lucky.

SJP the code for below the bridge out to buoy 10 is 211 and species codes are 1-chinook,2-coho. Get a set of the location codes before you fish somewhere else or you may be in the same spot as rubber robin

Johnny Mac · 08-31-2001, 04:32 PM

Man, I have to agree with Robin here. Thats just tooooo dang much for an oversight. In fact, its outright ridiculous. Like he said, what could he gain on it?? Nothing. I'm not buying the just doing my job, dont blame me thing. Thats expensive! Thats our great uncle taking advantage of our wallet! How about a warning at the MOST. Geez, the regs are so dang complicated nowadays, its just rigged to zap somebody for a big chunk of cash. Worse than the mob IMO. Good luck in court Robin! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Phish_on · 08-31-2001, 05:00 PM

Definitely worth the court visit. You could probably get the same results writing a letter, but then you have to send the money and hope they refund some/all.

You did better than me, I hadn't caught a fish for so long I spaced out that tag part. If we had been checked I would have been helpless. Guess I shouldn't have admitted that! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] I marked it as soon as I remembered, and ate the evidence anyway.

Personally, I would forgive anyone who had to steer a boat out in the circus !!

Rubber Robin · 08-31-2001, 11:46 PM

I fished the last day open for Buoy 10 chinook fishing on Wednesday. There were 4 of us and we all took the day off from work and started fishing by 7:30 am. We caught 8 fish during the entire day and then we took out at the Warrenton boat ramp next to Tackle Time and we were checked by the fish checker and then a young Oregon State Police cadet. We always try to do everything by the book so that we are totally legal. However, when we all handed over our tags, I had forgot to date the final fish that I had tagged. I had two fish tagged above it with the date but had forgot to put the date next to the last fish I had tagged.
Because of this oversight on my part, I received a $299 citation despite my argument
over the insignificance of this mistake. What was I going to gain by not putting the date down? I would have dated my tag the next time that I looked at it when I realized that I had missed it. I am tired of the attitudes of the OSP and resent having to prove our innocence when we are immediately thought to be guilty of some crime. We the fishermen are paying to support this fishery and for proper law inforcement to make sure everyone abides by the laws! I support this concept. I do not support a lack of common sense and disgression as to what might constitute a real crime or violation in the game laws!

Krome Brite · 09-03-2001, 05:59 PM

Why do the game wardens have to pick on the little guy that commited a minor "offense" like that when they should be bustin' snaggers and illegal netters, etc.? [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

WheresMyBobber · 09-03-2001, 06:21 PM

The OSP Officers have to do what they are told whether they agree or not. Just like we have to abide by the rules whether we agree with them or not.

Granted, there is some leeway in their enforcement of the rules, but not as much as you'd like to think. Don't "shoot" the messenger.

No, I am not a cop but I am friends with many of them and most are no different than you and I. They have a job to do, and do what they are told.

Look at how public employees are constantly bashed in the media, right or wrong - especially cops. They are caught between a rock and a hard place - if you know any cops, ask them about it and I'm sure you'll hear how they feel about it. They're in a no win situation.

Firedog · 09-03-2001, 06:38 PM

I think WMB hit it right on the head The rules are the rules whether we like them or not. I also know a fair amount of cops and they may not always agree with things but it is thier job to uphold the laws. They are out fishing and hunting just like you nad I and also have to follow the rules. Hopefully you and others can learn from the mistake.

invader · 09-03-2001, 06:49 PM

yeah can atest to the fact that they will lower it!!.... years ago i got caught with barbed hooks for sturgeon (such a crime) i thought he was gonna hall me off to jail!!.. it was only a few weeks into effect...and i had just lost a rig, so i was in a hurry to get re-riged and forgot to smash the barb!! i said i had forgotten the new rule and he gave me a ticket for 285 dollars...and then he said have a nice day!!... i wont say what i said back to him on this board!!.. the judge reduced it to 45 dollars, but i took the day off work so oh well!! .......john

fishpatrol · 09-03-2001, 07:09 PM

The tag thing is a real pain in the rear, but you can't tell someone who is really trying to cheat vs. someone who "forgot". Even a seasoned officer gets beat on this one. Go to court get the fine reduced it's your right, but don't blame the trooper. Most warnings get the officer a complaint, the person figures if they got a warning they weren't really in the wrong. A ticket will let them know (and the court) that a violation did occur.

One thing I've learned is there are two sides to every story.

Joe Schwab · 09-03-2001, 07:48 PM

Fishpatrol is right on. This is not a case of overzealous officer. Granted he is a Cadet but he has also received a good deal of training. Yes, maybe a more seasoned officer would have given a warning, but whether you like it or not it was a violation of the law. Every fish and game law on the books was put here for a good reason and many of them came from anglers demanding something be done to curb an abuse.
If only warnings were issues for specific violations there would be very low compliance. This is documented fact. I spent 25 years in Fish and Wildlife enforcement and saw "both sides" of the story. Sorry you got the ticket, but you are not alone and I can bet you will never forget to fill out your tag again. That is the intent of the law. A little side note: most officers don't enjoy giving tickets to nice people. Judges determine the fine, bail on the ticket is set by the courts and has very little to do with the actual fine. Go plead your case.

[ 09-03-2001: Message edited by: Capt. Hook ]

SandySteel · 09-03-2001, 07:54 PM

In the latest Salmon Trout Steelheader there is an interesting article on law enforcement for fish and game. One of the points they made is that many of the hard core fish thieves are doing the thieving by manipulating their tags either by mismarking them, or by getting a duplicate tag (not much of a problem this year with the hatchery tag). It pointed out that the police are on particular look out for "mistakes" made with tags.
I am sure you are an honest guy that made an innocent mistake. But the fact of the matter is Robin that your intent does not matter here. Either you did or did not mark your tag correctly. The price of the ticket is set. Personally, I would prefer to have a high price for game violations rather than low prices which creates weak laws.
Now if we can just make snagging a Measure 11 crime..... 3 strikes and you;re in the pokey for good. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Eric

Grant Scheele · 09-03-2001, 08:24 PM

I am sure that Robin is a law abiding citizen and it was just an oversight but how can the cop tell the difference from him and a badguy? If the "I forgot" statement worked to get a person off the hook, every bad guy in the world would have a heyday.

I don't agree with the overzealous cop sentiment. Work to get the fine lowered and chalk it up to lesson learned. We have all been there.

Krome Brite · 09-03-2001, 09:31 PM

I'm wondering, is it illegal to take eggs from somebody elses fish if they don't want them? I, as well as others have done this many times before, butone time I totally got harassed by a gamie for having eggs, but no fish to go with them. What the f---? There are nice gamies-I've met 'em-and then there's the nitpicky d--------. They all have their own personalities. Just my opinion.

Capin' Dan · 09-04-2001, 02:35 AM

Take heed stay away from Hammonds far away. I recommend having a friend back your trailor in the water while you are motoring around off the dock and then pull your boat onto the trailor and burn the tires getting as far away from Hammonds as fast as you can worry about tying it down after you are well away from there. I have seen it over the past couple of years and yes they do harrass fishermen and boaters. I even approached an officer and ask about this harassment last year after my boat had been inspected for the third time her reply is that if she could save even one life then she is happy. Maybe she should be on the water to save that life. I do not launch there any more I go out of tackle time. Even there I will put my boat on the trailor and clean my catch at home from now on. If the checker want to check my catch they can run alond beside my truck as I'm booking it down the road.
[img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

[ 09-04-2001: Message edited by: Capin' Dan ]

Sean · 09-04-2001, 12:36 PM

Oversight or not - think of it like a speeding ticket. If your oversight was 5, maybe 10 miles over the speed limit, you still violated the letter of the law. Case closed. Not a big offense, but we sure are quick to compliment them on busting folks for violations that others are guilty of... Those laws and rules are there to protect ALL of us, as well as the resource.