I'm a Poacher...:-(

Torchman · 06-13-2002, 08:57 PM

OK...time to come clean.
A few weeks ago, Rain's father came to visit.....happened to be a good clam tide. So I took her father, and son clamming. Her Dad is 69 YO, and suffers from emphasema (amongst other ailments), and Zack, her son is autistic. Zack is a fishing NINJA!!! I teach him the "Clam Dance" ..and he is off to the races!!!! "Uncle Frank.....HERE!!!!!"
Grandpa..."Is this one????"
Yep, they found em...I "popped" em. And got a yellow slip :-(
This was only my second time digging in OR....in WA it states "Active participation". We kept all smalls and brokens. Everyone had their own bucket, we thought we were doing "right" (Rain almost got a limit of broken DISCARDS that other folks left on the beach!!!)
Bottom line, I re-checked the regs. The Officer was RIGHT. I made a mistake. I guess I am just posting this to tie up 2-3 current threads.... I was NOT out to "overlimit"....nor did I think I was "in the wrong" by helping these two. In fact, I WAS! :-(
Officer "Dave" was very good about it (Zack HAS to know everyones name....AND check your wristwatch!!!!!) :-) And I respect his decision to issue a violation. Lesson learned.

fishchaser · 06-13-2002, 09:17 PM

Well you have to learn sometime, somehow. Sometimes, some of us have to learn the hard way. :depressed: Too bad it had to be you and the kids. :depressed:

brshooter · 06-13-2002, 09:18 PM

Tough break. This doesn't help now, but do they live in Oregon? The father should qualify for a disabled clam digger permit or a permanant disabilites permit. This covers clam digging and allows you to dig their clams for them. I think the regulations state that they must be within 100 feet of you and you must also have a copy of their disabled permit on your person. Something you might look into.

Dan Christopher · 06-13-2002, 09:19 PM

ok that was over my head,,i dont get it,,but i am not a clamer either.so please enlighten me.pretend i am dumb and fill me in..
oh wait i am bumd.why does zack have to know everyones names???wristwatch??? :whazzup:

Rain · 06-13-2002, 09:41 PM

Hey Madwizard... To clarify a bit about Zack... he has Asperger's Syndrome which is in the spectrum of Autism. He is REALLY bright... and really weird! [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img] He's his Mommy's Boy for sure! (The weird part!) Zack just likes to know everyone's name, and isn't shy about walking up and asking "Hey! What's your name, please?" ("Dave? Hey, Dave, we're clamming!" as Officer Dave is writing poor Torch the ticket!) I joke that he's got a career as a Walmart Greeter in the bag. :smile: Zack's also "into" time. Just loves watches... gotta' check your wrist to see what you have (and Mommy is NOT into time at all!)... and ties. He has a teacher who wears cool ties so Zack is totally into those. Torch is right... he's a fishing nut... and clam nut... and crab nut. I have SUCH a cool kid! :grin:

Zack and I hit the beach to clam today. Two limits... and he was a "clam dancin' fool" :smile:

bigshark · 06-13-2002, 11:14 PM

Torchman
I hope you take the ticket to the judge. My guess it would be a court there in Astoria where you live. Explain what, why, and all.
I can't believe you won't get some relief on the fine and you may get it dismissed if the officer is not in attendance. I can sympathize
with you. I once got a ticket for having one old corroded # 9 sheet load in my jacket in a waterfowl area. I just plain goofed and learned the hard way.The fine was waved but my hunting buddies ragged on me for years.

[ 06-14-2002, 12:20 AM: Message edited by: bigshark ]

Empire · 06-14-2002, 05:39 AM

I agree with bigshark, you need to take this to court. Admit to what happened, explain everything to the judge, and you will probably be pleasantly surprised.

Troller · 06-14-2002, 06:17 AM

You might of read my reply on another thread. I took a friend of mine fishing that is a quadraplegic and got a ticket for parking in the handicap spot with out a sticker in my window. Went to court with my friend and got the ticket canceled when judge heard my story and saw proof that I had a need to park their. I definitly broke a law but didnt know I had to have a sticker. Friend was just out of hospital from car accident that caused his injuries. Of course this was many years ago say 15 years or so. Back then I could afford to take a day off for court. The problem I have now is do you just pay the $100.00 ticket or do you go to court and loose double that in wages. If you got the time I would certainly try cant get any worse.

Jerry Dove · 06-15-2002, 07:01 AM

Abouta 25 years ago when my daughter was 6 years old, we were digging clams at seaside. She had her own bag and clam gun. To make her feel good I took two clams from my bag and put them in hers. I was digging another clam and looked up to see a man talking to my daughter and laughing. I asked him whats up. He showed my his badge, state police. He had asked her if she dug her own clams and she replied YEP . He spotted a hole and said there is one go for it . Her reply (NOPE I'M TIRED AND DON'T WANT TO DIG ANY MORE). He said I could not give you a ticked now if I wanted to. I told him I had put them in her bag and had no intentions of going over my limit. We both had a good laugh. We had never discussed any of this no cheating on clam thing with her. Leave it to a 6 year old.

Dan Christopher · 06-15-2002, 09:44 AM

thanks Rain

i get it now.
sounds like a heck of a good kid there.
take care

Hook-up · 06-15-2002, 11:49 PM

If you do not have time to show up in person, write a letter (or just cut and paste the explanation you wrote us) and send it in with your check. If they do not throw it out, they will usually reduce it and send you a refund for the difference.
I agree, sounds like a great kid.
Good luck.