There have been a number of people indicating that they are not going to purchase licenses and take their chances at either not getting caught or beating the violation in court.

Just to give you a heads up, there is more to it than that. If you are convicted or pay a fine for a hunting, fishing or trapping violation, your license will be suspended. So, you will be taking a chance of not only paying a fine but also facing a suspension.

Here's the statute for any of you who are interested.

Sec. 26-61. Suspension of license, registration or permit. Restoration. Fines. (a) Upon the complaint of any person concerning an alleged violation of any provision of this chapter, any regulation issued by the commissioner or any regulation issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the provisions of section 26-91 or any of the provisions of section 53-204, 53-205, 53a-109, 53a-115, 53a-116 or 53a-117, the commissioner may suspend, after notice and hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, with respect to the person who is the subject of the complaint, any license, registration or permit issued pursuant to this chapter to such person or such person's right to obtain any such license, registration or permit for not more than one year, and such license, registration or permit, together with the flag or other insignia issued by the commissioner, shall be surrendered to the commissioner or his authorized agent.

(b) Upon the conviction of any person for any violation of any provision of this chapter, any regulation issued by the commissioner or any regulation issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the provisions of section 26-91 or any of the provisions of section 53-204, 53-205, 53a-109 or 53a-115 to 53a-117, inclusive, or upon the forfeiture of any bond taken upon any complaint, or upon the payment of any fine for an infraction pursuant to section 51-164n, a license, registration or permit issued pursuant to this chapter to such person by the commissioner and the right to obtain any such license, registration or permit may, for a first violation or infraction, be suspended by the commissioner for not more than one year, and such permit, license or registration, together with the flag or other insignia issued by the commissioner, shall be surrendered to the commissioner or his authorized agent, except that for a violation of any provision of section 26-85 such permit or license or the privilege to obtain such permit or license shall be suspended for not less than one year nor more than two years. For a second violation of any of said laws or regulations the commissioner may suspend any such permit, license or registration and the right to obtain any such permit, license or registration for not more than two years, except that for a second violation of any provision of section 26-85 the suspension period shall be not less than two years nor more than five years; for a third violation or infraction the commissioner may suspend any such permit, license or registration and the right to obtain any such permit, license or registration for not more than three years, except that for a third violation of any provision of section 26-85 the suspension period shall be not less than five years and may be indefinite; and for a fourth violation or infraction within a period of ten years, the commissioner may suspend any such permit, license or registration and the right to obtain any such permit, license or registration for an indefinite period. Upon the conviction of any person or upon the payment of any fine for an infraction pursuant to section 51-164n, for a violation of any statute or any regulation issued by the commissioner concerning hunting in proximity to buildings occupied by persons or domestic animals or used for storage of flammable or combustible materials or any statute or regulation regarding shooting towards persons, buildings or animals, the commissioner shall suspend any hunting license issued pursuant to this chapter to such person, or such person's right to obtain any such license, for a period of one year, and such license shall be surrendered to the commissioner or his authorized agent; for a second such conviction or upon the payment of a fine for a second such infraction within a period of five years, the commissioner shall suspend any such license for a period of not less than two years.

(c) Any person who, under any provision of this section, has a permit, license or registration voided or suspended or has a privilege to obtain any one or more of such permits, licenses or registrations voided or suspended may apply to the commissioner for the restoration or reinstatement of one or more of such permits, licenses or registrations or his privilege to obtain any such permit, license or registration, and the commissioner may hear such application and may restore or reinstate one or more of such permits, licenses or registrations or the privilege to obtain any such permit, license or registration.

(d) Any person who procures any permit, license or registration to which he is not entitled or engages in fishing, hunting or trapping during the period when his permit, license or registration is voided or suspended shall be fined not less than one hundred nor more than two hundred dollars and all fishing, hunting or trapping permits, licenses or registrations issued to such person shall be suspended for an indefinite period. Any person who procures any permit, license or registration to which he is not entitled or engages in fishing, hunting or trapping during the period when such permit, license or registration and the privilege to obtain such a permit, license or registration are suspended for an indefinite period shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars or be imprisoned not more than sixty days or both, and, for a further violation in case of such indefinite suspension, shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned.

(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who violates any regulation adopted pursuant to section 26-16 and any regulation concerning sport fishing in the marine district adopted pursuant to section 26-159a. Any person who violates such regulations shall have committed an infraction and may pay the fine by mail or plead not guilty under the provisions of section 51-164n.

(f) Any person whose hunting license is under suspension for a hunting safety violation as identified in section 26-31 shall successfully complete a remedial hunter education course as required by said section prior to any restoration or reinstatement by the commissioner of his privilege to obtain a hunting license.

(g) Any person whose privilege to hunt, trap or guide has been suspended or revoked in any jurisdiction within the United States or Canada shall be prohibited from purchasing a hunting, fishing or trapping license in this state during such period of revocation or suspension provided the offense for which such privilege was suspended or revoked is substantially similar to an offense described in sections 26-62, 26-74, 26-82 to 26-90, inclusive, 53-204 and 53-205 or the regulations adopted under section 26-66 regarding trapping, hunting before or after legal hours, hunting within five hundred feet of occupied buildings or discharging firearms toward people or across roadways. If such person has previously purchased a license to hunt, fish or trap in this state, the commissioner, after notice and hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, may suspend such license for the same period as determined in the other jurisdiction or may revoke such license if such privilege was revoked in the other jurisdiction. Such person shall surrender such license to the commissioner or the authorized agent of the commissioner. No person shall possess a license which has been suspended or revoked under this section.

(1949 Rev., S. 4883; 1953, 1955, S. 2467d; 1957, P.A. 33, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 41; 871, S. 105; 872, S. 257; P.A. 82-255, S. 3; P.A. 84-99; P.A. 91-378, S. 3; P.A. 95-119, S. 4; P.A. 97-250, S. 8; P.A. 99-136, S. 1; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 102.)

History: 1971 acts added references to permits, replaced reference to Secs. 26-106, 53-104, 53-108, 53-110 and 53-123 with reference to Secs. 53a-109 and 53a-115 to 53a-117 and replaced references to board of fisheries and game with references to environmental protection commissioner; P.A. 82-255 extended the license suspension period from 15 to 30 days, replaced graduated fines for procuring license to which a person is not entitled or for fishing, hunting or trapping while license is void or suspended with one fine for all cases and deemed violations of Secs. 26-16 and 26-159a infractions; P.A. 84-99 added Subsec. (a) re the suspension of a license upon the complaint of an alleged violation, created Subsecs. (b) to (e) from previously existing provisions, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting a provision requiring the suspension of a license "upon the nolle of any complaint upon the payment of any sum of money or upon a suspended judgment or a continuance nisi"; P.A. 91-378 amended Subsec. (b) to provide for minimum mandatory suspension of hunting licenses for conviction of violation of regulations re hunting in proximity to residential areas; P.A. 95-119 amended Subsec. (b) to include infractions as criteria for suspension of licenses and made suspension for a first violation discretionary and deleted a minimum suspension period of 30 days and amended Subsec. (d) to require suspension of all fish and game licenses for engaging in hunting or fishing while under suspension of the relevant license; P.A. 97-250 added new Subsec. (f) re completion of a remedial education course prior to reinstatement of privilege to obtain hunting license; P.A. 99-136 added Subsec. (g) re suspension or revocation of licenses of persons whose licenses have been suspended or revoked in certain other jurisdictions; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 amended Subsec. (g) to remove reference to regulations adopted under Sec. 26-31b re guide services, effective January 1, 2003.

This will not be a fun year for EnCon,under staffed and over worked.

How can they suspend a license you didn't have?

They can suspend your right to get one after you've been convicted and fined...I may not agree with the law but making a choice to not follow it is not an option. There are many ways to voice and exercise yours/mine dissatisfaction regarding these new changes.

If you can afford to fish you can afford a license. Lets face it, fishing is not a cheap activity.

A lot of people like to complain about the court system, and how nobody ever gets convicted of anything serious.

That is, until they screw up and go through it themselves. It becomes very serious, very fast. You think you can beat a conviction when you have a CO appearing in court against you? The judge has heard from guys like you a hundred times this week, and thousands of times this year. He won't even be looking at you while you are talking. HE is looking at his court budget and seeing how much more in fines he needs to meet payroll.

What was that you said, the license fees were too high? Is that your defense?

Ok, so you think because you have no record you will beat the rap? Well, hire a lawyer, $1500 later he will get some kind of reduced charge for you.

Boy, you got off really easy on that rap.

Having a suspended fishing/hunting license sucks !!!! I was young and dumb once........ 2 minor offenses in one season took my license away for a awhile over 20 years ago.DO NOT RISK IT !


I have not purchased any licenses yet this year for this state or any other.I have not fished in months.

I will stage my own protest by holding out as long as possible on purchasing a license,I will also mainly fish over the border in Mass and spend the majority of my fishing budget out of state.I will eventually purchase my CT fishing/hunting license but not until the day before I need it.

Actually your only defense is to show up and hope the CO doesn't.

Otherwise, you are going to get a judgment holding you responsible. You will have 20 days to pay the clerk. Failure to do that will earn you a bench warrant.

You will get a free ride to see the judge again however.

Welcome to the hood Bob!!!!

6 fluke at 19.5 inches.......

Congrats on the slip. Is it at the yacht club?

Congrats. We can probably hook up some time. I launch out of the Pawcatuck River and go right by you on my way out. Remember my buddy (also Louie), who belongs and has a slip there, we all met at the off shore night.
Did you change your last name and tell them you were Italian like us to get in?
P.S. Your gonna have to teach me how to use that spreader bar.

I love it...All because the state didn't get their 40 bucks...

Currently I'm learning Spanish to beat the rap...........

Boy oh boy ed. Your something else man.Well your broski nateski is right behind you with his plumbing skills.

Encon I hope you nab every single guy who doesnt have a licence. I think you should post every single name someplace. Make it known.

Encon just a thought. This might help a little any chance of having to have the licence visable on a hat or clothes? Might help out some Key word some.

Not buying a license is NOT the answer.
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but paying too much for one is NOT the correct response either

I cut out the following = $112
state land shotgun
state land muzzleloader
small game
private land gun (unless I have a good opportunity...which has never happened, yet is a theoretically possibility)

I'm getting my SW license but not until the day I need it.

And to best honest - IMHO all the stuff about speaking spanish to beat the rap is just not that cool, it takes away from the overall quality of the site and probably discourages others from posting on the thread started by Encon.

I bought my saltwater license today. I would have waited until the last minute, but I am betting these jackals will raise the fee before the season starts. It really pisses me off that its going to the general fund to support welfare programs, but I can't take time off to fight this in court. It is taxation without representation. When the revolution starts, I will be there.

AMEN TO THAT!

I agree at this point. But, what if nothing changes in a year or two ? Or, it gets worse ?

Exactly !! If someone wants to take the risk, it's their god given right. There is no litmus test for getting a license, other than your hard earned cash.

Remember people, we get NOTHING for this license. Absolutely freakin' nothing. No more enforcement, stocking, research, NADA.....just taxation without representation.

I hate to day this......but even if they give 100% of hunting and fishing license revenue to the DEP. They will just turn around and reduce any other contributions they make to the DEP budget by exactly that figure anyway.

There is a whole lot more to the DEP than just hunting and fishing when you separate the pollution control side of the house for example.

What percentage of the total DEP budget really goes toward hunting and fishing anyway?

Does license revenue exceed the related expenses to run these programs or fall short?

New license prices SUCK. I could see a 5 buck or so increase, but doubling it??

BUT, I'd rather not lose my priveledges, so I guess I gotta buy one. Like other people said, breaking the law is not the answer.

Just wondering if the DEP CO's will pay as much attention to the RAMPART poaching that goes on out of the Pawcatuck River as they will checking to see who doesn't have a rec license.
Eight years of complaints... basically, zero results.
I've heard every excuse under the sun why no action has been taken from every level of the DEP.
This is the first public airing of that fact. All I can say is that KNOWN poachers keep doing their nefarious deeds- mosstly during the hours of darkness.... the rec license enforcement issue becomes a total joke.

I know one guy I worked with who got cought fishing in a reservoir . Game wardens caught him, took and suspended his licence.
He just went to Walmart and got a new one and was fishing the next day. He did this twice.
No one checks.

Is it OK to keep the saltwater license on the boat but not displayed?
I dont want to be fined 77 dollars..

also, if you have a fancy phone, you can make a digital image of your license and store it on the phone

I guess a lot depends on the mood of the officer.

I'm just telling you what I read in the rule book.

Can someone tell the DEP system guys to make the output "wallet" friendly? (Just make the dimensions so its foldable to fit the standard wallet card size...it's seriously not rocket science.)

For crying out loud, how much $$ did we spend on a "state-of-the-art" online system, just to botch the output???

Come on guys!

Sec. 26-35. Expiration date. License not transferable. Restrictions. Wildlife management
study area. Each firearms hunting, archery hunting, trapping or sport fishing license or the
combination firearms hunting and fishing license, except licenses issued pursuant to subdivisions (7) and (10) of subsection (a) of section 26-28, shall expire December thirty-first next following the date of issue and shall not be transferable. No person shall change or alter such a license or loan to another or permit another to have or use such license issued to himself or use any license issued to another. All licenses shall be carried as designated by the commissioner at all times when such licensee is hunting, trapping or sport fishing and shall be produced for examination upon demand of any conservation officer or other employee of the department designated by the commissioner or any other officer authorized to make arrests or the owner or lessee or the agent of any owner or lessee of any land or water upon which such licensed person may be found.

P.A. 91-3 deleted provision requiring the commissioner to provide a license holder and deleted provision requiring a license holder to display the license on his outer clothing while hunting, fishing or trapping;


Digital photo of license does not meet the requirement to carry it. With the new system you can print out multiple copies and have them on your boat, in your wallet, in your tackle box, in your pocket and in your vehicle, so there really is not a reasonable excuse for not carrying it. As far as size, I fold my license to fit in my wallet.

By the way..not carrying your license is a $77 fine.

Thanks Encon...I did the same with mine..and if it tears then I simply take one of the other 20 copies I printed, sign it and put it back in.

Also, as Buck pointed out I have a license in my boats, my cars, my wallet and one tackle-bag. Thanks for the clarification. I much prefer this method of licensing.

Captain Camejo,

Thank you very much for proactively providing information on this website so that all who are interested may benefit from a better understanding of the current regs.

I very much appreciate the job the DEP is trying to do in controlling poachers and other law breakers, I also appreciate the challenge the DEP must face everyday in trying to enforce a set of unpopular laws.

Best Regards,
Nate Minegar

Lighten up Francis!

Looks cool, however for those of us that end up a half dozen or more lines deep under "Privileges' it's be too small. Maybe rotate vertically?

Dave

No no no..when you don't speak english you don't even get the ticket to begin with...Happens all yr long in new haven along the river.

The Key with RI is not to move your boat there, but to buy your boat and register it there, then you don't have to pay sales tax...