Contact: Josh Weiss, Legislative/Legal Affairs Coordinator (360) 902-2226

Situation

Beginning March 1, 2001, the department will offer the public the opportunity to purchase hunting and fishing licenses over the phone or the Internet. While this has a number of advantages to the agency and its customers, it also increases the opportunity for a person to obtain a license fraudulently. While license dealers currently have the authority to check a person's photo identification before selling a license or permit over the counter, fish and wildlife officers do not have this authority in the field.

Problem

Fish and wildlife enforcement officers will not be able to verify that people presenting a fishing or hunting license purchased over the phone or Internet are who they say they are. This could make it difficult for them to enforce state hunting and fishing laws.

Proposal

Currently law gives Fish and Wildlife Officers the authority to check for valid licenses, tags and permits and to inspect all fish and wildlife in a person's possession. The agency proposes that Fish and Wildlife Officers be granted the authority to check a person's photo identification when presented with a license that has been purchased over the internet or telephone.

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