PRINTER'S NO. 2330
No. 1811 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY SHOWERS, HALUSKA, TIGUE, COHEN, GEIST, ITKIN,
JOHNSON, DEAL, COY, BALDWIN, GODSHALL, COLAFELLA AND HERMAN,
OCTOBER 21, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, OCTOBER 21, 1985
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1225, No.316), entitled
2 "An act concerning game and other wild birds and wild
3 animals; and amending, revising, consolidating, and changing
4 the law relating thereto," eliminating field acknowledgment
5 of guilt for violations; and further providing for the
6 prosecution of offenses other than misdemeanors or felonies.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 1203 of the act of June 3, 1937
10 (P.L.1225, No.316), known as The Game Law, amended April 18,
11 1949 (P.L.509, No.119), is amended to read:
12 Section 1203. Acknowledgment of Guilt.--Any person charged
13 with violating any provisions of this act, other than those
14 designated as a misdemeanor or a felony, [may sign an
15 acknowledgment of the offense committed, either before or after
16 the beginning of suit, and pay to any duly appointed and
17 commissioned game protector, or deputy game protector, the fine
18 provided by this act, together with costs accruing to that date,
19 and surrender to the Commonwealth any bird or animal, or part
1 thereof, or any article, implement, device or equipment the use
2 of which is expressly forbidden by this act, unlawfully taken or
3 possessed. Such person shall receive a printed receipt therefor,
4 which shall bear the imprint of the seal of the commission and
5 the signature of its executive director, which shall be evidence
6 of full satisfaction of the offense committed, except as
7 otherwise provided in this act] shall be issued an
8 acknowledgment form by the arresting officer at the time and
9 place of arrest. The acknowledgment form shall include a
10 description of the offense, the fine provided by this act for
11 the offense and the name of the arresting officer. The form
12 shall also include a place for the person charged to indicate
13 his plea of guilty or not guilty and the name and address of the
14 district justice having jurisdiction. The form shall be returned
15 to the named district justice, together with any appropriate
16 payment, not more than ten (10) days after the arrest. Upon
17 receipt thereof, the district justice shall send to the person
18 charged a letter indicating receipt of payment and satisfaction
19 of the charge, or, in the event of a plea of not guilty, a
20 letter informing the person charged of the time and place to
21 appear for a hearing. If the person charged fails to return the
22 acknowledgment form within the stated ten (10) day period,
23 proceedings shall be commenced as provided in section 1202.
24 At the time of arrest the arresting officer may demand the
25 immediate surrender of any bird or animal, or part thereof, or
26 any article, implement, device or equipment, the use of which is
27 expressly forbidden by this act, unlawfully taken or possessed.
28 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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