Collecting in Florida

[Kondla, Norbert FOR:EX]

WOW ! your use of the word 'harassed' is mild. is it now illegal to have
nets and envelopes in ones vehicle?? sounds like you were the subject of
criminal theft, pure and simple. listers with knowledge of USA legal
system plse comment, i would be interested in advice on how to deal with
this kind of situation in the event that i work up the courage to cross
the 49th parallel with net and envelopes in my vehicle

> ----------
> From: 	kirk.zufelt at utoronto.ca[SMTP:kirk.zufelt at utoronto.ca]
> Reply To: 	kirk.zufelt at utoronto.ca
> Sent: 	Monday, February 09, 1998 7:39 AM
> To: 	Peter.Trieb at siemens.at
> Cc: 	LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: 	Re: Collecting in Florida
> 
> Be extremely careful were you collect in Florida,especially in the
> south.Collecting in almost any park-(National,State,local etc.)is
> considered a "capital offence".Areas that are not marked may still be
> sate/national park/refuge etc.This is especially true in the
> Keys.These
> areas are patrolled very heavily and ignorance will not buy you any
> sympathy.The inumerable different wildlife agencies in Florida are
> extremely aggressive if you are caught they will confiscate all,search
> your hotel,charge you and maybe even toss you in jail.They will as
> well
> enjoy the entire process.A couple of years ago I was walking around
> near
> Big Pine Key bird watching at 0730,I was harassed as a wildlife
> officer
> noted a butterfly book in my front seat.They asked to look in the
> trunk(illegally i'm sure)and I had a couple of nets.They tore apart my
> car
> finding nothing they accompanied me to my hotel room in Homestead
> which
> they searched diligently,examining every butterfly I had collected in
> North Florida.AS i had done nothing wrong they could not charge me
> however
> they did confiscate my nets,envelopes etc. I hate to think what would
> happen if they caught you collecting. Florida can be great in February
> I
> have seen 80 sp. in this month alone but be very careful.
> 
> On Wed, 28 Jan 1998 Peter.Trieb at siemens.at wrote:
> 
> > I'll be in Florida from Feb., 02., for 3 weeks (first time).
> > This trip had to be arranged in very short time, so I didn't have
> the
> > opportunity to check the following points:
> > 
> > *) is it legal to collect butterflies in Florida? What about
> National
> > Parks, State Parks, etc.?
> > 
> > *) which species may be encountered (if any) at this time of the
> year?
> > I'm mainly interested in day-flying species (no moths)
> > 
> > *) where are the best locations?
> > 
> > Any other tips on nature-related matters concerning Florida will be
> highly
> > appreciated as well.
> > Please answer directly to my e-mail address, as I'm not able to
> retrieve
> > UseNet.
> > 
> > Thanks, Peter Trieb
> > 
> > Peter.Trieb at siemens.at
> > 
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