Reptile & Amphibian Forums

does anybody know the consequences for a "road cruising" ticket.

I heard $50-$500. Warnings were issued last night.
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
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Conservation through Education

It's a third degree misdemeanor-if convicted (and hopefully any who get one will fight it) the result is a fine. I have heard the fine would be less than $125.00.....Unless an officer actually witnesses an animal being bagged on the road, I don't believe a ticket would stick if challenged....

Brad Chambers

Brad...
" I don't believe a ticket would stick if challenged"

What makes you think so? I'm just curious to see where your logic is.
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

Because the state would have to prove that you were actually hunting/collecting on the road or right-of-way. Say a warden thinks that I'm driving suspiciously slowly, stops me, and finds a bag with a snake in it my car, along with hooks and other collecting paraphenalia. If he tickets me it just won't stick. Why?

First-nothing illegal about driving slowly.
Second-Nothing illegal about transporting reptiles in my vehicle, nor possessing collecting equipment-you can still collect reptiles in Texas on private land as long as you have a hunting license.

This warden would have to somehow PROVE that I INTENDED to collect snakes off the road.

Short of actually catching someone in the act of bagging a reptile in the road, I don't see how they will get any convictions. And through a new legal defense fund, we in Texas hope to keep the conviction rate at ZERO, or as close as humanly possible....

Brad Chambers

Legal Defense Fund? I want to know more!
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

yes it's in the works. Please refer to recent posts on the "Herp law/CITES foruma as well as the Alterna Forum....

Brad Chambers