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I got my first ticket yesterday #13260104 08/26/19 03:00 PM
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usernameJJ Offline OP
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So just a little bit of info before I give you the story. I have been hunting and fishing in Texas my entire life. My Dad always taught me to be legal, always have license, make sure of the size of fish, etc. and I have done everything in my power to pass these same things along to my son, who is now 14 and cannot seem to get enough fishing. So lately I have been taking him all over Corpus, yesterday we just happened to be fishing off the Jetties at the Packery Channel.

My 14 year old son was in charge of putting tape on my Rod to mark 15" so when I catch a Speckled trout (and 20" for Reds, etc.) we can quickly measure.

So I caught a Speck yesterday and we measured it with my rod, was close but about half an inch over the tape, so I threw it in the ice chest. At this point I'm sure you can guess what is coming. Game warden came by measured the fish and it was 13.5". (My son obviously put the tape at 13"). In spite of my sob story he wrote me a ticket.

So all of that leads me to the questions about what happens next? Obviously, I have a court date and will be attending that. The game warden said that there are "Civil Restitution" fees to be paid separately from the court fees. I have searched online and there is very little information about these fees. One article I read said that a 14" trout would cost you $88, but the article was about 3 years old. Is this not information that is available to the public? I found some rather hefty fees in regards to deer, etc. but obviously these don't pertain to me. Any idea of what I might be looking at here? I figure about a hundred bucks for court and a hundred bucks for Civil Restitution. Any other thoughts?

First time Criminal here

Last edited by usernameJJ; 08/26/19 03:17 PM.
Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13260119 08/26/19 03:12 PM
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cz tim Offline
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Not wanting to come across as a smart a**, but minimum length for red drum is 20 inches. Better check that tape as well.

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: cz tim] #13260138 08/26/19 03:20 PM
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usernameJJ Offline OP
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Originally Posted by cz tim
Not wanting to come across as a smart a**, but minimum length for red drum is 20 inches. Better check that tape as well.


Yes, edited

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13260382 08/26/19 06:19 PM
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Jerry713 Offline
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13.5"? That's pretty short. Sounds like there was a lesson learned by both. I'd think that 3 year old article would still be pretty close. Sorry I don't have more info on this.


You get out of it what you put into it!
Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13260448 08/26/19 07:01 PM
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I guess I thought I would get more sympathy here. I honestly thought the guy was gonna let me go with a warning. It's not like I was knowingly keeping a ton of undersized fish. Expensive lesson

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13260559 08/26/19 08:35 PM
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JJ4MEL Online Content
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Originally Posted by usernameJJ
I guess I thought I would get more sympathy here. I honestly thought the guy was gonna let me go with a warning. It's not like I was knowingly keeping a ton of undersized fish. Expensive lesson


Game Wardens are taught to be consistent, not give sympathy unless you were under extreme circumstances. Lesson learned and move on. You are obviously not a poacher and I sympathize for the lesson I am sure your son just received in the importance of measurements.

You will look back on this as your son gets older and has his own kids go fishing with you two and you can laugh about how their dad messed up his measurements and got you a ticket. Enjoy the time with your son.

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: JJ4MEL] #13260615 08/26/19 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by JJ4MEL
Originally Posted by usernameJJ
I guess I thought I would get more sympathy here. I honestly thought the guy was gonna let me go with a warning. It's not like I was knowingly keeping a ton of undersized fish. Expensive lesson


Game Wardens are taught to be consistent, not give sympathy unless you were under extreme circumstances. Lesson learned and move on. You are obviously not a poacher and I sympathize for the lesson I am sure your son just received in the importance of measurements.

You will look back on this as your son gets older and has his own kids go fishing with you two and you can laugh about how their dad messed up his measurements and got you a ticket. Enjoy the time with your son.


This is probably the proper perspective, thank you for that

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13260645 08/26/19 09:57 PM
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Jim Ford Online Content
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Not to beat a horse when it's down, but those Game Wardens (and most other LEOs) hear a sad story pretty much every time they catch a violator. Their job is to cite violators, not permit everyone with a story to walk on violations. Your job is to make sure you are in compliance with the regulations. The court's job is to determine guilt or innocence, and to assess punishment. I don't know how your JP's Office is, but you may find that the court will not be as hard on you as it could, since you were apparently not trying to cheat the system when you committed the violation. Good luck with it. As JJ4MEL stated above, eventually you will have a good laugh over the event. And you probably won't ever make the same mistake again......

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13260755 08/26/19 11:34 PM
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ccoker Offline
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yeah, one ticket my whole life..
on the jetties about 10 years ago while in Port A
Hadn't planned on fishing but a buddy was there and had an extra rod and said "let's go"
ok!

Well, along comes the GW checking licenses.. no big deal.. I always buy the super combo..
I didn't have my license with me, he calls it in, and he says this is hunting only.

I screwed up and the ONE time I get checked and wasn't properly licensed.
Got the ticket, fixed the problem, sent a letter to the judge explaining what happened

No luck, pay the man!

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: JJ4MEL] #13260969 08/27/19 02:41 AM
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Originally Posted by JJ4MEL
Originally Posted by usernameJJ
I guess I thought I would get more sympathy here. I honestly thought the guy was gonna let me go with a warning. It's not like I was knowingly keeping a ton of undersized fish. Expensive lesson


Game Wardens are taught to be consistent, not give sympathy unless you were under extreme circumstances. Lesson learned and move on. You are obviously not a poacher and I sympathize for the lesson I am sure your son just received in the importance of measurements.

You will look back on this as your son gets older and has his own kids go fishing with you two and you can laugh about how their dad messed up his measurements and got you a ticket. Enjoy the time with your son.

thumb


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Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13261043 08/27/19 04:00 AM
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I put fish marks on my rods. The lower slot marks are very much on purpose at a half inch over. The the upper slot marks are very much on purpose at a half unch under. If i feel like its too close i dont keep em.... 99% i dont measure. They are either clearly legal or they go back.

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13261070 08/27/19 06:10 AM
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...OK …. more important question ---- what bait were you catching the specs on ?

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13261134 08/27/19 11:23 AM
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Instead of spending time googling fines, call the JPs office.

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: usernameJJ] #13261159 08/27/19 12:00 PM
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“Civil Restitution

In addition to the criminal penalty for hunting and fishing violations, the department will seek the civil recovery value for the loss or damage to wildlife resources. The civil restitution cost is payable to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Failure to pay the civil recovery value will result in the department's refusal to issue a license, tag or permit. Hunting or fishing after failing or refusing to pay civil restitution is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a $500 - $4,000 fine; punishment in jail (not to exceed one year); or both. For questions call (512) 389-4630.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/...s-regulations/laws-penalties-restitution

I can easily tell a that a 13.5” Trout isn’t a keeper just by looking at it, no measuring required. Just by looking at a fish, my guess will be within a half inch on any fish’s measured length.

Re: I got my first ticket yesterday [Re: karstopo] #13261225 08/27/19 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by karstopo
“I can easily tell a that a 13.5” Trout isn’t a keeper just by looking at it, no measuring required. Just by looking at a fish, my guess will be within a half inch on any fish’s measured length.


Yup. This is why the GW didn't issue a warning. 13.5" is not close.


You get out of it what you put into it!
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