Fishing license and ID check?

fishnship

Recruit
Joined
May 23, 2009
Messages
5
twofold question, do they check for id when you show them your fishing license? if not, can't I use my dad's license?
 

CheapboatKev

Vice Admiral
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
5,813
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

why bother skirting the regs?
If you are as young as you sound...You dont even need one under 16 yrs old in most states
 

capt sam

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 14, 2009
Messages
878
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

so you ask if you can violate the law, get an answer not to and don't like the response? Grow up dude.
 

cpt woody

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Apr 23, 2009
Messages
31
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

I would say yes they check because you have to prove residence although I haven't been checked in awhile. If you show an id where there a big age gap it might bring some questions. If push came to shove I'd probably go to kmart or walmart where they don't have a permenent person handling fishing lic.
 

Landscaping Wiz 808

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Messages
498
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

GEEZ, you Florida folks are angry today!:D

The answer is YES! If you're required to have a license to fish then you should purchase one. I don't know where you're located, but in I can get one for VA that's good for fresh & salt water for $30. Actually I can fish salt in MD with this license too. The fine for not having it will be much more.:eek:

I know VA Department of Fish/Game puts that money back into the water in the form of stocking programs, waterway mapping, clean-ups, etc. So please either get a license or don't fish.

BOB
 

CheapboatKev

Vice Admiral
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
5,813
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

GEEZ, you Florida folks are angry today!:D

please either get a license or don't fish.
BOB


nuff said right there...

As far as us FL guys being angry....

Yeah..was only 85 degrees today and was too cold to be on the water...brrrrrrrr..dammm may as well be ice fishing
 

tnduc

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 2, 2007
Messages
292
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

Why would you fish without a license? If you can afford to boat and fish the license is the cheapest part.
 

reelfishin

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
3,050
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

The way I see it, if you go out, get checked, present your dad's license to the game warden, then you are knowingly providing false ID and false information to a law enforcement officer.
I'm no lawyer, but I'd suspect that could be a felony charge in most states.
It's no doubt a criminal offense.

Not to mention the game violations for fishing without a license.

Those of us who abide by the rules generally aren't too thrilled with someone who tries to skirt the law and fish for free. Buy your own license.
 

jay_merrill

Vice Admiral
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,653
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

As far as I know, it is now a requirement in any state in the US to provide a government issued ID, when asked to do so by a law enforcement officer. I suppose that does not apply to kids under a certain age, who may not have such an ID, but I believe it applys to all adults.

Further, while I don't know where you live, and therefore don't know how things are done in your state, my fishing and crabbing licenses have both my birthdate and drivers license number on them. Assuming that your father is at least 20 years older than you are, I would say that its not likely that you will fool anyone who asks to see your fishing license, only to have you give them your dad's license.

So, here are your choices: spend a few bucks getting a license, or risk large fines for taking fish without one. You could also face further fines for trying to deceive a law enforcement official. BTW, if "the law" feels that your dad participated in your attempt to get around the rules, they just might fine him too.

Do yourself a favor, spend less time trying to "beat the system" and more time getting properly set up to spend a few carefree days of fishing. Sweating the possibility of getting busted over something as stupid as a fishing license just isn't worth it.
 

Fly Rod

Commander
Joined
Oct 31, 2002
Messages
2,622
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

There is no sense to circumvent the law and maybe become a felon by using a false I.D.. Use that thing between the ears called a brain. Consider the consequences, if caught you may lose your right to fish for a year, pay a fine.

In Mass. a cop just can't pull you aside and ask for an I.D. without provocation. Here city cops do not enforce fishing or hunting regulations, state enviromental police do, who once were called game wardens.

Soon to be you will be required to have a salt water license in every state. Mass. does not have a salt water license like they have in Florida. The Federal government has mandated for all states to take action by 2010 or the feds will implement a salt water license.

Also take into consideration that if you ever may want to have a captains license and take pasengers for hire you need a TWIC card which is a new reqirement this year issued by Home Land Security. The slightest blemish could keep you from having a job where there is a secured facility.
 

cbavier

Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Messages
1,363
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

enough said guy. Buy a license. Presenting false ID will get you a fine and jail time for you and your dad. . It's called Identity theft.
 

jay_merrill

Vice Admiral
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,653
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

Being the information junkie that I am, I just did a little surfing on the matter of being requested to show ID by a law enforcement officer. It seems that in any state that has a "stop and identify" statute, an officer who has "reasonable suspicion" can demand to see an ID. Reasonable suspicion is not the same thing as "probable cause" and requires a much lower standard, as to belief that a crime has occurred or is about to occur.

As of 2008, there are 24 states (Mass is not one of them) with stop and identify laws. So, in the affected states, an officer who has a reasonable suspicion that something illegal might be going on, can demand an to see an ID. This issue was upheld by the US Supreme Court in a case called Hiibel v. Nevada. The case is mildly complicated and gets into issues of 4th and 5th Amendement rights, but suffice it to say that the Nevada statute on the matter was affirmed.

The thing that comes to my mind immediately, is that marine patrols can ask to see a fishing license under state laws applicable to that issue. Since a fishing license is a form of an ID, it stands to reason that a demand to see it is enforceable both under the fishing related statutes, and in states with stop & identify laws, a general demand to see an ID. Should the person being questioned then offer false ID - either the fishing license or a state ID/License - you go from an allowed check of fishermen, to a reasonable suspicion situation, to an actual violation and probable cause to investigate other things, in a hurry.

I guess my point here is that trying fake out the wildlife guys is probably not a good idea, because they have a lot of law in their favor, should they decide to make your life miserable.

Once again, you can risk all sorts of trouble, or you can spend the 30 bucks (only $15 in my state for fresh & salt water) it takes to get a license, show it to the officer and then go home with your cooler full of fish for supper. In my book, this choice is worth about a millisecond of thinking to come to the right conclusion.
 

gstanton

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 3, 2003
Messages
451
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

Only thing I can add is that don't even think the Resources Police haven't seen it all! They probably deal with this kind of juvenile deception a dozen times a week and will nail your ***** to the wall, if they have a mind to!
 

jay_merrill

Vice Admiral
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,653
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

Yeah, I guess they have seen it all. Here's something that I stumbled on while researching an issue in regard to PFDs.

In 2008 in south Louisiana, Wildlife & Fisheries agents boarded a fishing charter boat with three crew and 18 passengers aboard. They did so for the purpose of checking creel limits, size and fishing licenses. The creel limit in Louisiana for red snapper, is two fish over 16" and the crewmembers don't count in the calculation of allowable limit aboard the boat.

Upon checking, the agents found 909 red snapper aboard the boat, nearly 300 of which were under sized. Remembering that there were 18 fishermen, the actual creel limit was 36 fish! Furthermore, none of the 18 anglers were Louisiana residents and none had nonresident fishing licenses.

The agents handed out over 100 citations to all aboard, including the crew. Fishing without a license in Louisiana results in a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail, or both. Illegal taking of game fish includes a fine of between $400 and $950, or 120 days in jail, or both, plus court costs and taking of the fish. The fish in this case were, in fact, taken and they were sold at market for over $9,000. I'm not completely sure of the penalties for illegal taking of saltwater game fish over creel limit, but I believe that it is $100 to $350, plus 120 days, or both.

Hmmmmmmmm .... anyone wanna come to Louisiana with their daddy's license and catch a few fish, betting on the Wildlife guys not checking up on them? :rolleyes:
 

coolguy147

Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
2,817
Re: Fishing license and ID check?

ha ha ha im under 16 so dont need one yet :D


but i do got my florida safety education id card:p
 
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