Utopia Talk / Politics / The odd powers of Game Wardens

habebe Member	Mon Oct 19 11:50:28 http://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1243881 Admittedly I dont know much about VT game wardens authority. But the sheer fact that Gorusch and Kagan agreed makes you at least curious. In PA they seem to have the authority to supersede both the state and Federal constitutions. Literally on ananomous statements they can enter your house without search warrants and confiscate venison and such....like wtf?! Cops cant do this, soldiers cant do.this but game wardens can.... always seemed crazy.
habebe Member	Mon Oct 19 11:57:51 I should point out afaik they need " reasonable cause" to goninto your home, but anything else is pretty much fair game with not even reasonable cause.
tumbleweed the wanderer	Mon Oct 19 12:28:20 the OP article is a bit lacking, doesn't really specify why VT court ruled for the wardens (might not have been about them specifically being game wardens) found this on PA: HARRISBURG - Game wardens may enter posted land to investigate hunting violations, the state Supreme Court ruled in a case that arose during the first day of the 2002 bear-hunting season. Landowners do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy against enforcement of state game law, the court said in a 4-3 decision Tuesday. It endorsed the "open fields doctrine" that most other states have in place."The citizens of this commonwealth throughout our history have shown a keen interest in protecting and preserving as an asset the diverse wildlife that find refuge in the fields and forests within our borders," wrote Justice Ronald D. Castille for the majority. "This interest is so strong that it is enshrined by a separate provision of the Pennsylvania Constitution." The defendant, Joseph Russo Jr., was ordered to pay $3,600 in fines and restitution after game officers discovered he used an 80-square-foot pile of mashed apples to bait a bear near his hunting cabin in Mehoopany Township, Wyoming County.DNA evidence matched blood found at the apple mash pile -- along with bear tracks -- to a bear carcass seized from Russo's home in Pittston. He was found guilty of unlawful taking of game and using an illegal device to hunt. Russo appealed, arguing that the search of property posted with no-trespassing signs violated state constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure. http://www...72-58b1-a807-a57376497a1d.html (there was a TV show about game wardens in Maine doing stuff like that)
Habebe Member	Mon Oct 19 13:22:41 Ive heard stories* from people in PA of game wardens confiscating game meat ( venison) out of people's fridges/freezers on the belief that it was illegally taken ( usually out of season) But the reasonable cause seemed to be based on a tip. Again Im not saying this is fact as people's stories are often exaggerated.
Habebe Member	Mon Oct 19 13:42:09 "mash pile -- along with bear tracks -- to a bear carcass seized from Russo's home in Pittston. He was found guilty of unlawful taking of game and using an illegal device to hunt. " Deer DNA.... Just letting you know the PA game wardens are not fucking around...lol
patom Member	Mon Oct 19 14:27:38 Haven't watched North Woods Law 'Maine' for a while but when they first started I knew one of the Wardens from Washington County, Alan Curtis. Good guy and as smart as they come. If you are ever lost in the Maine woods you want Alan to come look for you with his K-9 dog. Game Wardens don't go around randomly barging in on peoples homes without reason. As far as them being allowed to search private property, then don't live in the woods. I knew people in Pa. that would 'jack' a deer in a NY second. a couple of them did it for money. I remember in Pa. when there was NO antlerless deer season. Now, with the explosion of the deer herd, they have so many opportunities to LEGALLY harvest deer that there is no real need to hunt illegally. Hell Fairmount Park in Philly is over run with deer. They have to hire people to go in and cull the herd.
jergul large member	Mon Oct 19 14:49:15 Historical reasons for a legal system based on English common law. Poaching was hit down on hard (a hanging offense on noble land. A quartering offense on Royal soil).
Habebe Member	Mon Oct 19 15:24:57 Tom, Im all for animal conservation efforts. It just seems odd to give powers to game officials that people would have a shit fit if police had.
patom Member	Tue Oct 20 04:54:55 Habebe, Game Wardens are also instrumental in finding marijuana fields. Actually up here in Maine, where there is a scarcity of law enforcement officers to cover huge areas, it is quite common for all of them to back up the other agencies when they can.
jergul large member	Tue Oct 20 05:53:07 "The first game warden ever may have been the good sheriff of Nottingham. As legend goes, his duties were fairly simple. He looked after the king's deer and tried to keep outlaws such as the legendary Robin Hood and his merry men from poaching. Since the 15th century, one would expect job descriptions of game wardens to have changed, and they really have in Texas." The internet.
Nimatzo iChihuaha	Tue Oct 20 09:40:01 ”Game Wardens are also instrumental in finding marijuana fields.” Abolish game wardens. No ganja, no peace.
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