Reptile & Amphibian Forums

While we're at the task of changing the new law, why not use our new-formed organization to press for a law or regulation that will actually HELP reptiles-a ban on the intentional killing of wildlife on Texas Roads! How many of us have seen drivers swerve out of their way to kill a snake or other crossing reptile? I've even seen them do it to turtles!

Not only would this help reptiles, but would serve to show all concerned- including the legislators, TPW, and the media- that we really do care about reptile and wildlife conservation.

Brad Chambers

It happens here in AZ as well. I've actually seen drivers swerve to hit desert tortoises (is that low or what) and gila monsters.

R

"While we're at the task of changing the new law, why not use our new-formed organization to press for a law or regulation that will actually HELP reptiles-a ban on the intentional killing of wildlife on Texas Roads"

Isn't "hunt" defined as kill or attempt to kill? Then under the new reg., anybody doing the above is violating it, as well as hunting without a license!!

Let's see some enforcement of THIS!!!
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Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

I wonder if anyone in TPW enforcement appreciates this aspect? Let's make sure they do.

Brad Chambers

We need a video of drivers swerving to hit a herp (or fake herp) to force their hand on this issue. If we can show that they are targetting us and ignoring deadly drivers, we have a valid claim of prejudicial enforcement. Not to mention that it would demonstrate that their only interest is attacking herping and NOT protecting herps. Seems to me that their FIRST priority should be protecting wildlife.

I hope it's much bigger than that - Discrimation, Equal Protection, yada, yada, yada.

R

Doesn't that invalidate the law in some manner, or make it unconstitutional? The law reads a person can't HUNT any wild animal or bird from a public road or right of way. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, it used to read much more narrowly like you can't hunt a game animal or discharge a firearm from a public road, or something like that. Maybe there's a good legal reason why other states haven't done this - Look, I'm just grasping for straws on the way down. Take pity on me

Robert

Someone with a video camera go out and get a big, fresh DOR atrox and lay it out on the highway just outside the normal lane traffic. You'll probably get your first "swerve to hit it" "hunter" within 10 minutes. Get it on video, try to take down the license plate. Post video on YuTube - send link to:

David.Sinclair@tpwd.state.tx.us

And ask that the driver be ticketed.

Troy

He did not have the equipment (video set up) to do it. So anybody with a good camcorder, so free time and big dead snake to lay out...

I had to wonder about those game trail cameras? If they can operate at night with no flash then they could be used to capture this stuff to no end.

Lance