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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Edward G. Staback |
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Staback poaching bill signed by governor
Law places Pa. among the toughest in the nation
HARRISBURG, July 9 – State Rep. Ed Staback, D-Lackawanna/Wayne, announced that legislation he authored that rewrites much of the penalty section of the Game Code was signed into law today.
Act 54 of 2010 will significantly increase fines and penalties for violations of the Game Code relating to the illegal killing of game or wildlife, especially for the illegal taking of big game.
Staback said this law brings Pennsylvania law up to par with other hunting states.
"Finally, the penalties fit the crime," Staback said. "These changes have been in the making for nearly two years and mark the first increase in Pennsylvania game law penalties in decades."
Under the new law, illegally shooting a deer out of season or at night with a light would be at least a $1,000 fine, up from the customary $200 to $300, with the possibility of a year in jail. The punishment for shooting other big game or multiple deer is raised from summaries to misdemeanors and, in some cases, felonies.
"Taking wildlife illegally is theft," Staback said. "Poaching is described by wildlife officers as everything from an ‘addiction’ to a money-making industry.
"And, in my experience, hunters are the most vocal when it comes to penalizing those who would poach Pennsylvania’s wildlife, especially big game," Staback said.
The law also addresses the commercialization of animal parts. Staback said that in recent years, organs and other specific animal parts have found their way onto the black market, where the demand and value is high. Specific kills for the harvesting of high value animal organs or parts is a disturbing trend that targets a variety of animals, including threatened and endangered species. Pennsylvania, given its light penalties and lack of prison time in sentencing, is seen as a land of opportunity for unscrupulous black-market traders. This law addresses the trend by increasing the punishments, including high fines and more serious charges of misdemeanors and felonies.
Staback said the law also takes a smarter approach to a situation that sometimes arises in the field. It addresses mistaken kills of whitetail deer by removing the threat of increased penalties. Prior to this change, a mistaken kill could be turned in by a hunter only to be deemed later as the much more serious "negligent" kill by the Wildlife Conservation Officer. Fines for negligent kills can reach $500. The new law removes the possibility of this additional penalty. Now, if a hunter mistakenly takes a game animal in season, he will present it to the commission officer and pay the current processing fee due for that species with no possibility of further charges being filed. The fee for a deer is $25.
"The passage of this landmark legislation into law was a long time coming but worth all the effort. Now, poachers and black marketers will think twice and realize they are up against new stiff penalties, heavy fines and even the possibility of jail time for illegally killing wildlife," he said. "This law will treat these shooters like the serious criminals they are."
This law takes effect in 60 days.
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