RCW 77.15.005 Finding—Intent. The legislature finds that merger of the departments of fisheries and wildlife resulted in two criminal codes applicable to fish and wildlife, and that it has become increasingly difficult to administer and enforce the two criminal codes. Furthermore, laws defining crimes involving fish and wildlife have evolved over many years of changing […]
RCW 77.15.010 Exemption for department actions. A person is not guilty of a crime under this chapter if the person is an officer, employee, or agent of the department lawfully acting in the course of his or her authorized duties. [ 1998 c 190 § 2.]
RCW 77.15.020 Authority to define violation of rule as infraction—Agreement to enforce certain civil infractions. (1) If the commission or director has authority to adopt a rule that is punishable as a crime under this chapter, then the commission or director may provide that violation of the rule shall be punished with notice of infraction […]
RCW 77.15.030 Individual animal unlawfully taken—Separate offense. Except as provided in RCW 77.15.260(2)(b), where it is unlawful to hunt, take, fish, possess, or traffic in big game or protected or endangered fish or wildlife, then each individual animal unlawfully taken or possessed is a separate offense. [ 2012 c 176 § 6; 1999 c 258 […]
RCW 77.15.040 Jurisdiction. District courts have jurisdiction concurrent with superior courts for misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors committed in violation of this chapter and may impose the punishment provided for these offenses. Superior courts have jurisdiction over felonies committed in violation of this chapter. Venue for offenses occurring in offshore waters shall be in a county […]
RCW 77.15.050 “Conviction” defined. (1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this chapter, “conviction” means a final conviction in a state or municipal court. (2) A plea of guilty or a finding of guilt for a violation of this title or department rule constitutes a conviction regardless of whether the imposition of […]
RCW 77.15.060 Reference to chapters 7.84 and 9A.20 RCW. Crimes defined by this chapter shall be punished as infractions, misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, or felonies, based on the classification of crimes set out in chapters 7.84 and 9A.20 RCW. [ 1998 c 190 § 7.]
RCW 77.15.065 Authority of attorney general if prosecuting attorney defaults. If the prosecuting attorney of the county in which a violation of this title or rule of the department occurs fails to file an information against the alleged violator, the attorney general upon request of the commission may file an information in the superior court […]
RCW 77.15.070 Civil forfeiture of property used for violation of chapter. (1) Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may seize without warrant boats, airplanes, vehicles, motorized implements, conveyances, gear, appliances, or other articles they have probable cause to believe have been held with intent to violate or used in violation […]
RCW 77.15.075 Enforcement authority of fish and wildlife officers—Volunteer chaplain. (1) Fish and wildlife officers shall have and exercise, throughout the state, such police powers and duties as are vested in sheriffs and peace officers generally. Fish and wildlife officers are general authority Washington peace officers. (2) An applicant for a fish and wildlife officer […]
RCW 77.15.080 Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers—Inspection authority. Based upon articulable facts that a person is engaged in fishing, harvesting, or hunting activities, fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers have the authority to temporarily stop the person and check for valid licenses, tags, permits, […]
RCW 77.15.085 Seizure without warrant. Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may seize without a warrant wildlife, fish, shellfish, and covered animal species parts and products they have probable cause to believe have been taken, transported, or possessed in violation of this title or rule of the commission or director. […]
RCW 77.15.090 Search, arrest warrant—Issuance—Execution. On a showing of probable cause that there has been a violation of any fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife law of the state of Washington, or upon a showing of probable cause to believe that evidence of such violation may be found at a place, a court shall issue a […]
RCW 77.15.092 Arrest without warrant. Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may arrest without warrant persons found violating the law or rules adopted pursuant to this title. [ 2000 c 107 § 213; 1998 c 190 § 114; 1987 c 506 § 19; 1980 c 78 § 20; 1971 ex.s. […]
RCW 77.15.094 Search without warrant—Seizure of evidence, property—Limitation. Fish and wildlife officers and ex officio fish and wildlife officers may make a reasonable search without warrant of a vessel, conveyances, vehicles, containers, packages, or other receptacles for fish, seaweed, shellfish, and wildlife which they have reason to believe contain evidence of a violation of law […]
RCW 77.15.096 Inspection without warrant—Commercial fish and wildlife entities—Limitations. (1) Fish and wildlife officers may inspect without warrant at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner: (a) The premises, containers, fishing equipment, fish, seaweed, shellfish, and wildlife of any commercial fisher or wholesale dealer or fish dealer; and (b) Records required by the department of […]
RCW 77.15.098 Willful misconduct/gross negligence—Civil liability. (1) An authorized state, county, or municipal officer may be subject to civil liability under RCW 77.15.070 for willful misconduct or gross negligence in the performance of his or her duties. (2) The director, the fish and wildlife commission, or the department may be subject to civil liability for […]
RCW 77.15.100 Seized fish, shellfish, wildlife, and covered animal species part or product—Forfeiture—Sale—Disposition of sale. (1) Fish, shellfish, and wildlife are property of the state under RCW 77.04.012. Fish and wildlife officers may sell seized, commercially taken or possessed fish and shellfish to a wholesale buyer and deposit the proceeds into the fish and wildlife […]
RCW 77.15.110 Acting for commercial purposes—When—Proof. (1) For purposes of this chapter, a person acts for commercial purposes if the person engages in conduct that relates to commerce in fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife or any parts thereof. Commercial conduct may include taking, delivering, selling, buying, brokering, or trading fish, seaweed, shellfish, or wildlife where […]
RCW 77.15.120 Endangered fish or wildlife—Unlawful taking—Penalty. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful taking of endangered fish or wildlife in the second degree if: (a) The person hunts for, fishes for, possesses, maliciously harasses, or kills fish or wildlife, or possesses or intentionally destroys the nests or eggs of fish or wildlife; (b) The […]
