Chris, if you had been there in Austin, you would see that this regulation WAS aimed specifically at herpers (I know this isn't apparent in the transcripts, but the way the "face to face" talks went it was readily clear they were determined to leave no loopholes herpers (and only herpers) could fit through!). Why?



Well, I believe that TPW LE wanted to have a tool they could use against herpers if any were causing "problems" as perceived by local landowners or wardens-out-of-state herpers, in particular. These guys aren't stupid-they know that this law is all but unenforceable as written (witness the fact that, in two years, not a single citation has been issued!), But this matters not at all, since its sole purpose was to have an inhibiting effect-which is precisely what has happened. Anyone can tell you that the flow of herpers from outside Texas has slowed to a trickle, and even many Texans are staying at home rather than hitting the cuts.



From the point of view of LE, this ban is a success, since it has greatly reduced what they consider to be a headache caused by a bunch of rather eccentric and (largely non-Texan)reptile freaks...



-----
Brad Chambers

WWW.HCU-TX.ORG



The Avalanche has already started-it is too late for the pebbles to vote....

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