2018 - 2019 Point and Suspension Systems



Points and Suspension Systems

for Natural Resource Violations

South Carolina law has established suspension systems based upon the accumulation of points assessed for convictions of natural resource laws.

The Game and Fish Point System applies to violations inland of the saltwater/freshwater dividing line and if suspended under this system, a person cannot hunt, fish, gather, trap, land, or pursue game, fish, crustaceans, or shellfish in the State (including coastal waters out to the three mile limit).

The Saltwater Point System applies to violations within the coastal waters of the State, seaward of the saltwater/freshwater dividing line. The point categories for assessments are recreational and commercial. Points are assessed according to the appropriate category. Upon accumulation of 18 or more points in the recreational or commercial categories, a person’s privileges to fish, gather, land, attempt to take, or possess fish, shellfish, or crustaceans within the coastal waters for the purposes of the affected category will be suspended. Suspensions under the Saltwater Point System do not effect inland freshwater fishing privileges except for shad, herring, and sturgeon which are regulated by coastal laws inland of the saltwater/freshwater dividing line.

Each time a person is convicted of a violation listed in the point systems, the Department must assess the points against the person's record. Half of the points on record are reduced for each full year in which the person receives no points. The Department of Natural Resources must suspend the privileges of any person who has accumulated eighteen (18) or more points.

In addition to these point suspensions, South Carolina law also contains mandatory suspensions for convictions of specific violations of the law. These suspensions are called "Statutory Suspensions." See Table C for some specific examples of statutory suspensions.

Point System Suspension Appeals

A person who has been notified of a suspension may appeal the suspension pursuant to the South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act. The appeal of the suspension is not an appeal of the person’s conviction. The Administrative Law Court does not have jurisdiction to review the conviction, only the suspension. Appeals must be filed and served within 30 days of the date of suspension notice. You must file the appeal with the Clerk of Court of the Administrative Law Court. South Carolina Administrative Law Court, Edgar A. Brown Building, 1205 Pendleton St., Suite 224, Columbia, SC 29201, Voice: 803-734-0550, Fax: 803-734-6400.

If an individual appeals a suspension the SCDNR will temporarily end the suspension. The result is that an individual will retain the privileges that were initially suspended during the period of appeal. The period of appeal begins when the SCDNR receives notification from the Administrative Law Court that the case has been scheduled for a hearing. The SCDNR will notify the individual in writing when the period of appeal begins. Until that notice is received the suspension remains in effect. A withdraw of the appeal by the individual, or a finding in favor of the SCDNR by the Administrative Law Court will result in the individual having to serve the remainder of the suspension. A finding in favor of the individual, or a finding by the SCDNR that the suspension was in error, will result in a dismissal of the suspension.

Note:

A violation of natural resources law while under suspension may result in additional suspensions of one year to five years.

The purchase or procurement of a license, permit, stamp, or tag allowing suspended privileges while under suspension is a fraudulent purchase and is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,085.00 and an additional one year suspension of hunting and fishing privileges.

Failure to pay fines and/or restitutions may result in suspension of privileges.

To find out more information on suspensions, contact the SC Department of Natural Resources, Records and Intelligence Section, Law Enforcement Division, P.O. Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202 or call 803-734-3876.

Table A: Game and Fish Points

Number Violation Points 1. Resisting arrest by force, violence, or weapons against the person of any law enforcement officer enforcing natural resource laws 18 2. Attempting escape after arrest 14 3. Hunting or fishing in a state sanctuary 14 4. Hunting, fishing, or trapping out of season 10 5. Unlawful selling of game or game fish 14 6. Using a borrowed or altered hunting or fishing license, permit, stamp, or tag 10 7. Taking more than the legal limit of game or fish (except striped bass) 8 8. Hunting or fishing without a proper license, permit, stamp, or tag 6 9. Trespassing to hunt, fish, or trap 14 10. Intentional trespassing to hunt, fish, or trap 18 11. Violating Wildlife Management Area regulations 8 12. Unlawful hunting, taking, possessing, or selling alligators 14 13. Killing or attempting to kill or molest deer from a motorboat 14 14. Night hunting deer or bear 18 15. Unlawful transportation of furs or hides and possession of untagged hides 10 16. Trapping quail or turkeys 10 17. Unlawful hunting over bait 8 18. Unlawful killing or possession of antlerless deer 14 19. Unlawful night hunting other game, except deer or bear, or hunting during prohibited or after hours 8 20. Unlawful possession of buckshot 5 21. Hunting migratory birds with an unplugged gun 4 22. Killing or possession of wild turkey during the closed season 18 23. Killing or possession of a hen turkey during the spring gobbler season 14 24. Roost shooting turkey between one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise 18 25. Shooting turkey over bait (game taken) 18 26. Hunting turkey over bait (no game taken) 10 27. Trespassing to hunt waterfowl 18 28. Hunting waterfowl over bait 10 29. Shooting waterfowl over bait (game taken) 10 30. Hunting waterfowl out of season 15 31. Taking or possession of more than one waterfowl over the legal limit 15 32. Unlawful possession, taking, or attempting to take raccoons during the season for hunting without firearms 14 33. Trapping, netting, or seining game fish unlawfully 10 34. Taking game or fish in any illegal manner not specifically mentioned elsewhere in the point systems 8 35. Taking or possessing an undersized striped bass 14 36. Taking or possessing more than the legal limit of striped bass 14 37. Taking or possessing more than the legal creel or size limit of blue catfish. 14

Note: Some examples of Item 34 are:

Taking waterfowl with lead shot. Taking fish with too many devices. Killing birds of prey (Hawks, Kites, Vultures, Kestrels, Owls, or Falcons). Killing/possession of nongame birds. Taking fish while violating specific freshwater nongame fishing laws such as illegal bait on trotlines or set hooks. Taking game while violating specific trapping laws such as unlawful traps.

Other less common examples are, but are not limited to, taking game while unlawfully hunting with an electronic call, or killing a turkey with a rifle. The application of item 34 is very broad and examples are given for clarification.

Item 34 applies to unlawfully taking game or fish in a way that is not specifically addressed by the Game and Fish Point System.

Table B: Saltwater Points

Saltwater points are assessed in two categories: Recreational and Commercial. Upon an accumulation of eighteen (18) or more points in a category, the privileges of that category will be suspended for one year. While under Recreational Suspension, a person found guilty of a commercial saltwater violation will have all saltwater privileges suspended for one year. While under Commercial Suspension, a person found guilty of a recreational violation will have all saltwater privileges suspended for one year.

Number Violation Description Points 1. Failing to keep records or make reports as required by law, permit or regulation 4 2. Violations of law pertaining to crab size limit or sponge crabs 4 3. Violations of a section of Title 50 pertaining to saltwater fisheries not mentioned specifically in this section.



(NOTE: This point assessment applies to all other convictions that are not specifically mentioned herein. Any conviction for a violation of a saltwater fisheries law will be assessed a minimum of 6 points). 6 4. Taking, attempting to take, or possessing fish, shellfish or crustaceans in an unlawful manner, in unlawful or closed areas, during unlawful hours, or during the closed season except trawling violations 8 5. Selling or offering for sale fish, shellfish, crustaceans, or other seafood or marine products without a proper license, permit, stamp, or tag 8 6. Violating Department of Health and Environmental Control regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 44-1-140 related to the harvesting and handling of shellfish resulting in adulterated product as defined in Regulation 61-47 10 7. Unlawfully buying fish, shellfish, crustaceans or other seafood or marine products without a proper license, permit, stamp or tag 8 8. Trawling inside the General Trawling Zone other than in restricted areas: (a) more than one quarter nautical mile during the closed season

(b) more than one quarter nautical mile at a time more than ten minutes before daily opening or ten minutes after daily closing times during the open season

10





10 9. Trawling in a restricted area during the closed season. 10 10. Trawling outside the General Trawling Zone:

(a) one hundred yards or less distance from the nearest point of the General Trawling Zone during the open season

(b) more than one hundred yards distance from the nearest point of the General Trawling Zone during the open season

(c) during the closed season

10



18

18 11. Taking or attempting to take fish, shellfish or crustaceans for a commercial purpose without a proper license, permit, stamp or tag 10 12. Captain or crew of a boat failing to cooperate with an enforcement officer 18 13. Channel netting in an area closed to channel netting or during closed season for channel netting 18 14. Applying for or obtaining any resident license as provided in this chapter using a falsified application or supporting documentation, or simultaneously possessing any current, valid South Carolina resident license as provided in this chapter while possessing any resident license from another state 18

Note: It is unlawful for a person whose commercial privileges are suspended under this chapter to be on board any vessel while the vessel is being utilized to take or attempt to take saltwater fish for commercial purposes.

Table C: Statutory Suspensions

Many laws pertaining to natural resources and boating contain mandatory suspensions. These suspensions start upon conviction and run for specified times according to law. These suspensions will affect privileges and may affect licenses, permits, stamps, tags or registrations. Examples of violations for which suspensions are mandated include, but are not limited to:

Letter Violation Description Suspension A. Hunting from a public road 1 year B. Unlawfully taking a wild turkey 1 year C. Conspiracy to violate natural resource laws 1 year D. Obtaining a license, permit, stamp, or tag by fraud 1 year E. Altering, post dating, borrowing, or lending a license, permit, stamp, or tag 1 year F. Criminal, negligent use of a firearm 1 to 5 years G. Boating under the influence 6 months to

5 years H. Trawling violations 1 year I. Killing a Bald Eagle 5 years J. Failure to pay fines or restitution Suspended until payment is received K. Third (3) offense negligent operation of a watercraft 6 months L. Bear violations 3 years M. Impeding the right to hunt, fish, or trap 1 year

The above listed violations are examples of statutory suspensions. Other statutory suspensions exist with time periods ranging from 10 days to 10 years for certain violations and certain privileges.

Operation Game Thief Game and fish law violators steal your wildlife and rob you of tax, license, and business dollars. They cheat you out of recreation and your children out of part of their future. You’re their victim as surely as if they’d robbed your home.. Operation Game Thief is a program designed to stop game and fish law violators in South Carolina. Citizen involvement is the key to the success of the program. You can help in either of two ways: You can make a contribution to Operation Game Thief. Contributions will be used to make rewards to persons providing information leading to the arrest of game and fish law violators. Contributions are tax deductible..

You can report a violator (anonymously if you choose). If your information leads to an arrest, you will receive a cash reward of up to $500.00 dollars. Rewards are dependant on the amount and type of information.

Interstate Wildlife Violators Compact

2018-2019 SC Hunting and Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide (PDF 25MB)