See other bills
under the
same topic
        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2892                      PRINTER'S NO. 4097

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 2145 Session of 2003


        INTRODUCED BY GOODMAN, STABACK, PHILLIPS, GODSHALL, CAPPELLI,
           COY, DeWEESE, FABRIZIO, FEESE, GERGELY, HALUSKA, KELLER,
           MELIO, READSHAW, STERN, SURRA, WASHINGTON, YOUNGBLOOD,
           YUDICHAK AND ALLEN, NOVEMBER 10, 2003

        AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
           JUNE 16, 2004

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     2     Statutes, further providing FOR UNLAWFUL USE OF LIGHTS WHILE   <--
     3     HUNTING AND for unlawful acts concerning licenses.

     4     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     5  hereby enacts as follows:
     6     Section 1.  Section 2711 of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania       <--
     7  Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
     8     SECTION 1.  SECTIONS 2310(B) AND (C) AND 2711 OF TITLE 34 OF   <--
     9  THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED STATUTES ARE AMENDED TO READ:
    10  § 2310.  UNLAWFUL USE OF LIGHTS WHILE HUNTING.
    11     * * *
    12     (B)  EXCEPTIONS.--THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (A) SHALL NOT
    13  APPLY TO:
    14         (1)  A PERSON ON FOOT [MAY USE AN ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
    15     NORMALLY CARRIED ON THE PERSON TO TAKE] WHO IS USING A
    16     FLASHLIGHT OR SPOTLIGHT HELD IN THE HAND OR WORN ON THE HEAD
    17     IF THE SOLE SOURCE OF POWER FOR THE LIGHT IS CONTAINED IN THE

     1     LIGHT OR ON THE PERSON TO TAKE COYOTES, BOBCATS, RACCOONS,
     2     SKUNKS, OPOSSUM OR FOXES.
     3         (2)  ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, ITS EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS,
     4     WHICH HAS A VALID DEER CONTROL PERMIT ISSUED UNDER SECTION
     5     2902(C) (RELATING TO GENERAL CATEGORIES OF PERMITS).
     6     (C)  PENALTIES.--A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS A SUMMARY
     7  OFFENSE OF THE FIFTH DEGREE. IN ADDITION THERETO, IF ANY PERSON
     8  IS HUNTING GAME OR WILDLIFE OR IF ANY ATTEMPT IS MADE TO TAKE
     9  ANY GAME OR WILDLIFE [OR IF ANY FIREARM OR IMPLEMENT CAPABLE OF
    10  KILLING OR WOUNDING GAME OR WILDLIFE IS POSSESSED], THE PERSON
    11  OR PERSONS SHALL BE SENTENCED TO THE ADDITIONAL PENALTIES OF:
    12         (1)  FOR EACH ENDANGERED OR THREATENED SPECIES, A FINE OF
    13     $1,000 AND FORFEITURE OF THE PRIVILEGE TO HUNT OR TAKE GAME
    14     OR WILDLIFE ANYWHERE WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH FOR A PERIOD OF
    15     TEN YEARS.
    16         (2)  FOR EACH ELK OR BEAR, A FINE OF $800 AND FORFEITURE
    17     OF THE PRIVILEGE TO HUNT OR TAKE GAME OR WILDLIFE ANYWHERE
    18     WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.
    19         (3)  FOR EACH DEER, A FINE OF $500 AND FORFEITURE OF THE
    20     PRIVILEGE TO HUNT OR TAKE GAME OR WILDLIFE ANYWHERE WITHIN
    21     THIS COMMONWEALTH FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.
    22         (4)  FOR EACH BOBCAT OR OTTER, A FINE OF $300 AND
    23     FORFEITURE OF THE PRIVILEGE TO HUNT OR TAKE GAME OR WILDLIFE
    24     ANYWHERE WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH FOR A PERIOD OF THREE
    25     YEARS.
    26         (5)  FOR EACH TURKEY OR BEAVER, A FINE OF $200 AND
    27     FORFEITURE OF THE PRIVILEGE TO HUNT OR TAKE GAME OR WILDLIFE
    28     ANYWHERE WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.
    29         (6)  FOR EACH OTHER BIRD OR ANIMAL, A FINE OF $100 AND
    30     FORFEITURE OF THE PRIVILEGE TO HUNT OR TAKE GAME OR WILDLIFE
    20030H2145B4097                  - 2 -     

     1     ANYWHERE WITHIN THIS COMMONWEALTH FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.
     2     * * *
     3  § 2711.  Unlawful acts concerning licenses.
     4     (a)  General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
     5  title, it is unlawful for any person to:
     6         (1)  Hunt or take any game or wildlife by any means or
     7     manner or device, including the use of dogs, without first
     8     securing and personally signing [and displaying] the required
     9     license.
    10         (2)  Procure a license in a name other than the person's
    11     legal name, furnish an address other than his legal place of
    12     residence and domicile or make any false or misleading
    13     statement whatsoever in securing a license.
    14         (3)  Lend or transfer in any manner whatsoever a license
    15     or game or wildlife kill tag to any other person regardless
    16     of the purpose.
    17         (4)  Issue or aid, assist or conspire, either for that
    18     person or any other person, in procuring any hunting or
    19     furtaking license for which that person is not legally
    20     entitled thereto.
    21         (5)  Possess while hunting or taking game or wildlife or
    22     going to or from hunting or taking game or wildlife any
    23     report card, license tag, license stamp or game or wildlife
    24     kill tag belonging to another.
    25         (6)  Except as provided under section 2705 (relating to
    26     classes of licenses), receive a hunting or furtaking license
    27     under any circumstances if under 12 years of age.
    28         (7)  Receive a hunting or furtaking license without
    29     presenting a written request executed by a parent or legally
    30     constituted guardian if under 17 years of age.
    20030H2145B4097                  - 3 -     

     1         (8)  Use firearms of any kind or a bow and arrow for the
     2     purpose of hunting any game or wildlife or attempting to take
     3     or kill any game or wildlife by hunting or trapping if under
     4     12 years of age or when hunting or trapping any game or
     5     wildlife or attempting to hunt or trap any game or wildlife
     6     if between 12 and 14 years of age, unless accompanied by a
     7     parent or a person 18 years of age or older serving in loco
     8     parentis or as guardian or some other family member 18 years
     9     of age or older or when hunting if between 14 and 16 years of
    10     age, unless accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older.
    11     For the purpose of this paragraph "accompany" means close
    12     enough that verbal instructions and guidance can be easily
    13     understood. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply
    14     to section 2363 (relating to trapping exception for certain
    15     persons).
    16         [(9)  Remove or cause to be removed or permit the removal
    17     of any hunting or furtaking license required by this title
    18     from the place where the license is required to be displayed
    19     for the purpose of concealing the identity of that person or
    20     to resort to any other means or manner to conceal the
    21     identity of that person.]
    22         (10)  Hunt or take, or aid, assist or attempt to hunt or
    23     take, furbearers or take any game or wildlife anywhere in
    24     this Commonwealth, either with or without a license, or make
    25     application, receive or attempt or conspire to receive any
    26     license required by this chapter, during any period that
    27     these privileges have been denied or withdrawn by this title,
    28     by the director or by a district justice or court.
    29         (11)  Conspire to or duplicate, reproduce, alter, forge
    30     or counterfeit any permit, license, tag or stamp required by
    20030H2145B4097                  - 4 -     

     1     this title.
     2         (12)  While exercising any of the privileges granted by
     3     any license provided for in this title, refuse or fail to
     4     satisfactorily provide positive identification to any
     5     landowner upon whose land that person may be occupying or to
     6     any officer whose duty it is to enforce this title.
     7         (13)  Violate any regulations promulgated under the
     8     authority of this subchapter.
     9     (b)  Penalties.--A violation of this subchapter relating to:
    10         (1)  Hunting by a nonresident without a valid license or
    11     licenses required by this title is a summary offense of the
    12     fourth degree.
    13         (2)  Furtaking by a nonresident without a valid furtaking
    14     license or licenses required by this title is a summary
    15     offense of the second degree.
    16         (3)  Hunting or furtaking by a resident without a valid
    17     license or licenses required by this title is a summary
    18     offense of the fifth degree.
    19         (4)  Subsection (a)(1) insofar as it relates to signing
    20     [or displaying] a license is a summary offense of the eighth
    21     degree.
    22         (5)  Subsection (a)(2), (3), (4)[, (5) or (9)] or (5) is
    23     a summary offense of the fifth degree.
    24         (6)  Subsection (a)(6), (7) or (8) is a summary offense
    25     of the seventh degree.
    26         (7)  Subsection (a)(11) is a summary offense of the third
    27     degree. In addition to the imposition of any penalty, a
    28     convicted violator shall incur a five-year mandatory
    29     revocation of the privilege to hunt or trap anywhere in this
    30     Commonwealth.
    20030H2145B4097                  - 5 -     

     1         (8)  Any of the other provisions of this subchapter or
     2     the regulations promulgated thereunder is a summary offense
     3     of the fifth degree.
     4     (c)  Separate offenses.--Each day of violation or each
     5  illegal act constitutes a separate offense.
     6     SECTION 2.  THE AMENDMENT OF 34 PA.C.S. § 2310(B) AND (C)      <--
     7  SHALL APPLY TO OFFENSES COMMITTED ON OR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE
     8  OF THIS SECTION.
     9     Section 2 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.           <--














    J2L34MEP/20030H2145B4097         - 6 -