S-2030

AN ACT Relating to game and game fish penalties; amending RCW 77.21.010 and 77.21.070; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 77.21.010 and 1988 c 265 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A person violating RCW 77.16.040, 77.16.050, 77.16.060, 77.16.080, 77.16.210, 77.16.220, 77.16.310, 77.16.320, or 77.32.211, or committing a violation of RCW 77.16.020 or 77.16.120 involving 77.16.210, 77.16.220, 77.16.310, 77.16.320, 77.16.340, or 77.32.211, or committing a violation of RCW 77.16.020 or 77.16.120 involving big game or an endangered species is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and shall be punished ((by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars and not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than thirty days and not more than one year or by both the fine and imprisonment)) in accordance with penalties set forth in RCW 9.92.020, but the minimum fine shall be two hundred fifty dollars. Each subsequent violation within a five‑year period of RCW 77.16.040, 77.16.050, or 77.16.060, or of RCW 77.16.020 or 77.16.120 involving big game or an endangered species, as defined by the commission under the authority of RCW 77.04.090, shall be prosecuted and punished as a class C felony as defined in RCW 9A.20.020. In connection with each such felony prosecution, the director shall provide the court with an inventory of all articles or devices seized under this title in connection with the violation. Inventoried articles or devices shall be disposed of pursuant to RCW 77.21.040.

(2) A person violating or failing to comply with this title or rules adopted pursuant to this title for which no penalty is otherwise provided is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished for each offense by a fine of five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than ninety days in the county jail or by both the fine and imprisonment. The commission may provide, when not inconsistent with applicable statutes, that violation of a specific rule is an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.

(3) A person placing traps on private property without permission of the owner, lessee, or tenant where the land is improved and apparently used, or where the land is fenced or enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders or to indicate a property boundary line, or where notice is given by posting in a conspicuous manner, is guilty of the misdemeanor of trespass as defined and established in RCW 9A.52.010 and 9A.52.080 and shall be punished for each offense by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars.

(4) Persons convicted of a violation shall pay the costs of prosecution and the penalty assessment in addition to the fine or imprisonment.

(5) The unlawful killing, taking, or possession of each wildlife member constitutes a separate offense.

(6) District courts have jurisdiction concurrent with the superior courts of misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors committed in violation of this title or rules adopted pursuant to this title and may impose the punishment provided for these offenses. Superior courts have jurisdiction over felonies committed in violation of this title.

Sec. 2. RCW 77.21.070 and 1989 c 11 s 28 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Whenever a person is convicted of illegal killing or possession of wildlife listed in this subsection, the convicting court shall order the person to reimburse the state in the following amounts for each animal killed or possessed:

(a) Moose, antelope, mountain sheep, mountain goat,

and all wildlife species classified as endangered

by rule of the commission.................................$2,000

(b) Elk, deer, black bear, and cougar.........................$1,000

(2) For the purpose of this section, the term "convicted" includes a plea of guilty, a finding of guilt regardless of whether the imposition of the sentence is deferred or any part of the penalty is suspended, and the payment of a fine. No part of any fine or other criminal penalty imposed may be suspended or deferred, in whole or in part, until moneys ordered to be reimbursed under this section have been paid. No court may establish bail for illegal possession of wildlife listed in subsection (1) in an amount less than the bail established for hunting during the closed season plus the reimbursement value of wildlife set forth in subsection (1).

(3) If two or more persons are convicted of illegally possessing wildlife listed in this section, the reimbursement amount shall be imposed upon them jointly and separately.

(4) The reimbursement amount provided in this section shall be imposed in addition to and regardless of any penalty, including fines, or costs, that is provided for violating any provision of Title 77 RCW. The reimbursement required by this section shall be included by the court in any pronouncement of sentence and may not be suspended, waived, modified, or deferred in any respect. Nothing in this section may be construed to abridge or alter alternative rights of action or remedies in equity or under common law or statutory law, criminal or civil.

(5) A defaulted reimbursement or any installment payment thereof may be collected by any means authorized by law for the enforcement of orders of the court or collection of a fine or costs, including vacation of a deferral of sentencing or of a suspension of sentence.