"The previous fines, last revised in 1984, were wholly inadequate as a deterrent or punishment for wildlife crime," said Senior Resident Agent Dick Dickinson. "Fines regarding waterfowl hunting violations have generally doubled."
Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act which is a Class B misdemeanor and has a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000. In addition, each extra illegal duck is an additional $50.00 and each illegal goose is $75.00. This provides an equitable method for assessing fines based upon the level of violation. When the number of birds killed is in excess of the daily limit, the fine is $250.00; but if there were five ducks taken over the limit, the fine would be $500.00.
The most dramatic increase under the new fine schedule regards violations under the Lacey Act. These typically relate to people who violate game laws in one state, then unlawfully transport the wildlife to another state. Under the old provision, forfeitures for Lacey Act violations were $300, plus collateral additions of $100 for all big game species. Fines are now $1,500 with collateral additions for big game species as high as $2,500. Elk, moose, caribou and sheep/mountain goat are $2,000; deer, black bear and pronghorn, $1,000; and mountain lion and brown bear $2,500. Most of the Lacey Act violations are investigated and tickets issued for a Class A misdemeanor violation, which carries a term of up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000.
Further provisions include the following: fines are not mandatory and are at the discretion of the law enforcement officer, a violator may be required to appear and face any punishment prescribed by law which may be imposed upon any conviction; illegal wildlife taken as a result of violations of law are automatically forfeited; and fines for violations by organizations, such as corporation, partnerships or association, are doubled.
The new schedule takes into account new statutory penalties, other Federal collateral schedules and state bond schedules. This revision brings the Federal judicial districts of Wisconsin in line with other Federal districts and states.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
