Hunting and trapping; reduces penalty for violations. (HB940)

Introduced By

Del. Watkins Abbitt (I-Appomattox)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Department of Forestry; hunting and trapping violations. Reduces the penalty for violations of hunting and trapping laws or regulations administered by the State Forester. Currently such a violation is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor and could include confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500. Under the new provision, a violation would be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor and would include only the possibility of a fine of not more than $500. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/13/2010Committee
01/13/2010Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/10 10100786D
01/13/2010Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
01/27/2010Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/28/2010Read first time
01/29/2010Read second time and engrossed
02/01/2010Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (97-Y 0-N)
02/01/2010VOTE: BLOCK VOTE PASSAGE (97-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/02/2010Constitutional reading dispensed
02/02/2010Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
02/08/2010Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (13-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/09/2010Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/10/2010Read third time
02/10/2010Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/17/2010Enrolled
02/17/2010Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB940ER)
02/17/2010Impact statement from DPB (HB940ER)
02/17/2010Signed by Speaker
02/18/2010Signed by President
02/26/2010G Approved by Governor-Chapter 8 (effective 7/1/10)
02/26/2010G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0008)

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 25 seconds.

Comments

Waldo Jaquith writes:

Why? I'm not in favor of lawmakers that advocate for continually harsher penalties for all crimes, and in theory it's great to see somebody supporting the opposite, but I have to wonder on what basis this is being scaled back.

Thomas Crouch writes:

Those who live in areas with lots of State Forest land have a friend in the House! This is a bad bill... state forest lands are for all to enjoy and require enforcement of the existing laws and penalties to protect the rights of all who use that land. I hunt and use public land. The laws are easy to obey.