Where do fines go?

[dgibson]

Can anyone tell me where the funds collected from game violations go? How about the fines collected in court for non-ticket game violations (i.e., the judge gives the guy a $100 dollar fine and revokes his license)? Do they go to the KDFWR?<img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

[raktrakr]

intresting question...id like to see some repies on this one

[glenn]

Being a police officer here in Louisville......

When someone pays fines on speeding tickets, reckless driving, DUI, shoplifting, littering, etc...., the county in which the fine is assessed and payed is the county that gets the money (primarily). This is done (usually) through the District Court of that county. Funds are then used by both the county and the state to support the court system in that county or jurisdiction.

I don't really know where else the money is sent, but I don't think that the funds generated by levying fines is ear-marked for any special department, unit, etc... if that department is the one creating the citation or the arrest.

This is my very simplistic understanding of where the fines go, and it might not be completely right.

If someone has something else, throw it into the mix!!!!!

[FW OFFICER]

The money for fines is paid to the court system in the county where the violation occured. The violator pays a fine PLUS a court cost. I've been told that the dept get a small part of the FINE money. That part is used by all the divisions of Fish & Wildlife, not just Law Enforcement, to carry on the role of the Dept. I don't know all the figures, as to what persentage of the fine money goes to the dept, but its a small persentage. The rest of the fine, plus the court cost, is mandated by the county and the court system where the case was cited. Your district court clerks office can give you a better answer than anyone.

[dgibson]

Thanks for the replies, folks. I had been involved in a discussion where this came up and no one knew the answer for sure.

[Valley Station]

I talked to District court accounting department supervisor.Fines money and report are sent to Dept.of Finance in Frankfort.
Ky F & W receives 60% of fish & game violation fines levied.
D.U.I. and trespassing violations, for example, are not F&G violation and Ky F&W receives none of the fine money!
Then why is F&W spending time and money to issue the citations??

[Darton73]

Hey Valley,

I don't think they normally go out looking for DUI's, but imagine the repercussions if they ignored a drunk driver and then he goes down the road and kills someone. As for tresspassing, I think that F&W should get a percentage of those tickets, especially in cases where the tresspassing is hunting related. I wouldn't want them to ignore tresspassing, however, just because they don't get a portion of the fines.

Brian Grossman
Darton73@alltel.net

[glenn]

Never meant to imply that F& W should cite for speeding, look for DUI, or look for expired tags, etc....

Just tried to say that fines (for the most part) of any "citation" belong to the county in which it was cited.

Thanks,

Glenn

[Valley Station]

I would guess, "water patrol/ L.E. officers" spend a "majority" of their effort on big lakes in the summer enforcing the D.U.I. and "open licquir" laws.
F&W should respond to trespassing , but, we need to "get it corrected" as to whom receives the money for enforcement.
Why should local police dept. authorities receive the money, if they will not respond when called and tell you to "call the game warden"??

[FW OFFICER]

We, as Fish & Wildlife officer, don't go around looking for DUI's or other violations outside of Chapters 150 & 235. But, as sworn state peace officers, we have taken an oath to enforce ALL the laws of the Commonwealth of KY and certain federal laws / regulations. If we see a potentially dangerous situation out on the roadway, we take care of it, and continue with our duties. There is a law now dealing with boating under the influence, or BUI. That falls under our Chapter 235 or boating regulations. As far as trespassing complaints, that is one of our duties. Who better to notify, if someone is trespassing on your farm than a Fish & Wildlife officer. If it happens in a city, the city units handle it. Out in the country or rural area, we do. Just because the dept doesn't get any money from the citation, does that mean we don't have obligations to the public and to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth? I sure hope not. Laws and responsibilities amount to more than just the money involved.

[Multidigits]

FW--I disagree. Yes, I believe your time should only be spent on enforcement of fishing, hunting and now boating violations. That is, as long as that's where the fine money come from. Or unless, when your enforcing non-wildlife laws, somebody else pays you. The way I see it, your working for the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and should spend your 37 and a half hours working for their benifit. While your out there running someone in for BUI, somebody is out there fishing without a license, catching over the limit or keeping under size fish.

As far as a trespasser goes, unless that trespasser had illegeal game in his possession, why wouldn't you just call a local sherrif or deputy to make the arrest, and let him spend his time in court instead of you?

[Walker]

Mulitdigits,a F&W officer taking someone off the road for a DUI might save your's or someone else,s life.I would hope no police officer or F&W officer would ignore someone DUI or some other dangerous situation just because of where the money ends up.

[Multidigits]

All true, Walker. But they have radio's and can call for someone with that jurisdiction. They don't have to be the arresting officer. There are many more examples where they could cross over, but in most cases they should spend their time on fish and wildlife cases. I agree with Valley, maybe the problem that needs fixed is where the money goes.

[warden310]

Valley,

You're right about the 60% of the fine going to F&W. That's why we would rather everyone buy a license. The trespassing charge has it's own version at F&W, 150.092 Hunting/Fishing without consent. I often write criminal trespass when violators are not hunting/fishing. You never know until you catch them. DUI's on the water are written as BUI (boating under the influence). The same BAC levels apply, like DUI.

[Valley Station]

Warden310,

Who gets the "revenue" (60% of the fine) for "BUI" violation?
What about other boating violations??

[FW OFFICER]

If it's a fishing / boating violation(Chapters 150 or 235) F & W gets the funds from it. Boating under the influence falls under chapter 235, therefore its our duty to enforce it. The fine's are different than DUI and it has no effect on your vehicle operating priviliges.
We don't look for DUI's but sometimes we're the ONLY unit out and we have to take care of the situation. Even if we turn it over to another unit, we will still be called into court to testify as to what the probable cause was for the traffic stop. So there is still court time involved, either way.
As WARDEN 310 said, there is a charge for hunting w/out permission that is a F&W violation.
Should money be the soul motivation as to whether we do our jobs or not? How much do we get from it? Try this: We stop to give a stranded motorist some help. We check them for hunting / fishing license. They don't have one, so do we drive off leaving them stranded? They don't support the Dept. They haven't bought a license or registered a boat. Does that mean we don't hold a responsiblity to help them also? Yes, we're funded by license sales, registration fees and sportsmens dollars, but we also have a responsibility to the people of the Commonwealth as a whole, not just a few. If this ruffles some feathers, I'm sorry, but I feel we have a responsibility to ALL the people of the Commonwealth.

[GSP]

Try this twist,
A CO has one of the most powerful postions in the state's LEO world. They are expected (sworn) to uphold ALL laws within the Commonwealth. Their equipment is not funded by any of the states monies. Why does the state not outfit these fine folks with an on-board computer system for their vehicles?

[FW OFFICER]

You have my vote & support on that one!!

[GW805]

I have been late to join this discussion and read with interest all of the posts. I agree with the idea that a W/B O's time should be spent on fish, wildlife, and boating, it is not that simple. We are sworn officers and have a duty to all of the citizens of KY. BUI affects all on the water just as DUI affects all on the roads of our Commonwealth. We are charged with enforcing those laws.
In an ideal world all of the fine money generated would go to the Division of Law Enforcement and so would the money generated at the auction from confiscated equipment. It could be used to purchase all of those new toys; computers, video equipment, ATV's, and such, that would make our jobs easier. We cover the whole state just like the State Police, except we are spread very thin. You seldom if ever see a trooper on the water and we have the same problems there that exsist in the cities and countys across the state. Drugs, drinking, domestics just to name a few. So, give us a break. We do all we can under the restriction placed on us and for the most part, we do it well. Don't talk about something like this until you have lived it.

[GSP]

GW805,
I think you will find most folks here on your (the law enforcement) side. I know that most here have the highest respect for your profession and I for one say the COs do an fine job in this state. Yes, there are a few exceptions as in any profession, but fewer here than most! We also know your hands get tied in red tape and politics. Keep up the good job and don't forget to listen to your local sportsmen, they will help you.

[FW OFFICER]

I have a little trivia for you. How many Wildlife / Boating officers are there statewide? There are between 1000-1100 State Police Troopers to cover the entire state, but how many Fish & Wildlife W/B officers? Any guesses?

[Highbow]

My guess would be 14, I thought you classified the water patrol as CO's now.

[Multidigits]

I had a CO form the county that I live in tell me that in the summer, he spends 90% of his time per week on the water, enforcing boating laws. With only one CO per county, this is assinine! How much time that allow for jacklighters, etc.??? The merger of the Law enforcement div. into the Boating Officers was a mistake. It should have stayed with the State Police.

Here's an idea, why not shift the CO/Boating Officer's into the Kentucky State Police ranks and get out of the Law Enforcement business? Let the Fish and Wildlife Dept. manage the wildlife with the limited budget from license sales (no General Funddollars) and let the State Police fund the law enforcement efforts. Beside's the dept. doesn't reap much benifit from the fines (60%???) and they are not always only enforcing hunting and fishing laws???

[warden310]

The 60% of the fine may not seem like much, but those people usually go buy a license after getting caught. In my area the majority of citations are NO HUNTING/FISHING license. With other charges there is often confiscation of equipment which is auctioned in Frankfort. Either way money is being generated and sent to F&W.

[taggedout]

Whats involved in becomeing a ceo & is there a web site to help. Thanks

[FW OFFICER]

Check out the Dept of Personnels website at:www.state.ky.us/agencies/personnel/pershome.htm
Search thru until you find wildlife/boating cadet. That will tell you the minimum qualifications for the job. Basically, you must be at least 21 yrs of age, have a drivers license, high school grad, 4 yrs of college or 4 yrs experience in wildlife, biology, law enforcement, recreation, or agriculture. Those qualifications will get you a score on the state register. That is the list of applicants that the Dept hires from. When they hire, they pull the top 5 percent of the names on the register. They do their interviews, background checks, ect and hire. The new cadets will attend a fish & wildlife academy, usually 6-8 weeks, to learn the duties of a wildlife / boating officer. Alot of info is crowded into that time frame. Then, they will attend the Dept of Criminal Justice Training Academy at Eastern Ky University for 16 weeks to get certified as a state peace officer. After that, they are on a field training status where they work closely with more experienced officers to see how things are done in the field. The cadet handles the complaints, but the training officer is there to guide / critique the officer in his performance. This FTO ( Field Training Officer) period lasts usually 12-16 weeks. From a cadets hire date, they have a 1 yr probation period to prove that they can do the job as an officer. If they can, they make probation. If they can't do they job, they don't make the probation period and are released. Your 1st year as an officer is very hectic because of all the training you have to take. Basically, about 9-10 months of the probation period is in training. But, for me and as far as I'm concerned, it's the best kept secret in the state and the best job. Excuse my rambling.