LEVY COUNTY JOURNAL THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2006

Page 17

Pe TALON Wy alans

Florida State

CES HOLDS FN

 

DAVID FLORANCE explains to Kathy Crews’
head start class how everything on the fire ruck

works.

 

DEBBIE and David from the Chiefland Fire De-
partment, treated the students to coloring books

and hats.

snipe

:
:
=

kindergarden class.

Journal photos by
Miriam Blitch

 

ESE STUDENTS listen carefully to Tootie and Fire Chief David Barnett
while Teacher Aide Lynn McGee assist.

Law toughens on fishing violators

Hunters and fishermen who repeatedly
violate Florida’s fish and wildlife laws may find

’ themselves becoming couch potatoes under a

new law.

The. law also increases the penalty for
hunting or fishing with a suspended or revoked
license, making it a criminal offense, increasing
the fine and adding jail time and suspension
of the license. The new legislation provides
consistency among penalties for . similar
saltwater and freshwater fishing and fume.
They are:

Level 1. Noncriminal violations which do
not directly impact natural resources such
as hunting or fishing without a license, deer
hunting without an orange vest and violations
o wildlife management area rules.

First and subsequent convictions result in
$50 fine plus court costs, unless the person was
convicted of having no license. In that case, he
would have to pay the cost of a license, too.

Level 2 Criminal infractions that directly
impact resources, such as exceeding bag limits,
fishing or hunting during closed seasons,
violating artificial reef requirements and
illegally feeding wildlife.

Second conviction-within Level 2 and within
three years—first-degree misdemeanor with
penalties of a mandatory minimum fine of $250
fine and up to a year in jail.

Third conviction—within five years and
Level 2 or higher—first degree misdemeanor
charge with a mandatory 4500 fine, a year in

jail and a mandatory one-year suspension of all
FWC recreational licenses and permits.

Fourth and subsequent convictions—within
10 years of Level 2 or higher—same penalties
as a second and third conviction, but adds a
minimum mandatory fine of $750 and a three-
year suspension of all FWC recreational licenses
and permits.

Level 3 Criminal violations of fish and wildlife
laws that directly impact resources. These are
considered more serious violations than in Level
2, such as possession of commercial quantities
of freshwater game fish, taking deer or turkey
during a closed season or with use of a gun and
light at night, possession of three fish in excess of
daily bag limit of trout, snook or redfish, taking
1,000 pounds-plus of illegal finfish or. 10-plus
lobsters, stones crabs or blue crabs.

First conviction, a first-degree misdemeanor,
results in a fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year
in jail.

Second conviction — within 10 years and
within Level 3 or higher—results in a first-degree
misdemeanor and up to a year in jail with a $750
minimum. mandatory fine and mandatory three-
year suspension of all FWC recreational licenses

resources, include possession of a counterfeit
license, molestation or theft of freshwater fishing
gear or lobster, stone or blue crab traps, lines or
buoys, or illegal sale of deer, turkey or marine
fish that illegally: harvested.

First and subsequent convictions—third-
degree felony-up to a $5,000 fine and five years
in jail.

\

FIRE CHIEF DAVID Barnett helps a young man out of the camper where
they had a demonstration of smoke so children would know what to do
when there is a real fire.

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Fire Marshal

with possibilities.

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misdemeanor, results in a fine of up to $500 fine | Level 4: The most serious criminal fish and Roar aey sar siagiaeaaaNR nity can keen kids aw
and 600 days in jail. wildlife violations that directly impact natural ch igus nae lage ane phi ivinidandlebauen CONE ieee that tee mcr

about to explode...

 

DAVID FLORANCE, Tootie and Chris Williams, the fire PUP: all have fun with Ms. Lauvenia Sloan’s