Tougher Penalties for Wildlife Law Violators

Florida law now aggressively protects the state’s natural resources by imposing tougher penalties for those who violate fish and wildlife recreational laws and by adopting the Wildlife Violator Compact, an agreement among 28 states.

Tougher Penalties

As a provision of s. 372.83, F.S., repeat offenders will face tougher penalties with each conviction. Depending on the severity of the offense, penalties range from a $50 fine and court costs to a $5,000 fine and/or five years in prison, as well as suspension of hunting or fishing privileges.

For example, if you are charged with a 2nd-degree misdemeanor (like exceeding the bag limit), your first conviction could result in a fine of as much as $500, jail time up to 60 days or both. If you are convicted a fourth time within 10 years, you could face up to a $1,000 fine, up to one year in jail, and suspension of your hunting and recreational fishing privileges for three years.

Wildlife Violator Compact

Florida is a member of the "Wildlife Violator Compact," as described in s. 372.831, F.S. - an interstate agreement to protect fish and wildlife.

Persons whose hunting, fishing or trapping privileges are revoked or suspended in their home states will be prohibited from engaging in those activities in Florida. Likewise, Florida residents who have had their hunting, fishing or trapping privileges revoked or suspended in Florida will be prohibited from engaging in those activities in other member states. A Florida resident who commits a wildlife or fisheries law violation in another member state is treated the same as a resident of that state.

Wildlife Violator Compact member states include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.