Brief Description: Modifying the definition of "conviction" for chapter 77.15 RCW.

Sponsors: By Representative Nixon.

House Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks
Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) is required to suspend the recreational hunting and fishing privileges of an individual for two years if that person is convicted of any three hunting or fishing violations within the previous ten years. The requirement to suspend privileges only applies when the person in question is convicted of a criminal act. Violations that are punishable as a civil infraction are not counted towards the three required convictions leading to a suspension.

Summary:

The Department is required to suspend a person's recreational hunting and fishing privileges for two years if the person is either convicted of a hunting or fishing offense, has an uncontested notice of infraction, fails to appear at a hearing to contest an infraction, or is found to have committed an infraction three times within the previous 10 years. Infractions count towards a suspension of privileges only if the infraction was punishable as a crime on the effective date of the act and was later decriminalized or was a violation of certain infractions that existed on the effective date of the act.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   97   0
Senate   47   0   (Senate amended)
House   98   0   (House concurred)

Effective: July 24, 2005