WARNING for Florida herpers!

[LooptyLoo]

This is ridiculous. I'm sorry that you had to go through this.

[helmethead]

This is definitely for real, my nerves are STILL shot to heck. I have been on the FWC site many times making sure ball pythons are not
restricted or banned or what have you. Yes, this was some sort of undercover operation, but for selling ball pythons?! WTF!!!
I know way too many cops to not be in compliance. Seriously though, ball pythons?

I'm just glad I didn't have the dog and pony show in front of my house. I always meet people at a busy location(7-11, McDs, etc...)

So, Curtis, you and your boys can all rest easy knowing you took out a ball python selling citizen.

Oh, and they said I would need a Class III permit to buy/sell ball pythons - NO ifs, ands or buts.

[RoseyReps]

Yes, you have to have a class III for selling any wildlife. In other words, any animals not classified as domestic.

It sucks, but $50 to cover your bum from incidents like this is well worth it.

It says on the fwc site that it is required for sales of all wildlife not listed...so it sucks that you misinterpreted it, but it's there :/

I even listed my rats on it just to be safe.

Yay government being all up in your business. (Sarcasm)

[The Serpent Merchant]

Yes, you have to have a class III for selling any wildlife. In other words, any animals not classified as domestic.

It sucks, but $50 to cover your bum from incidents like this is well worth it.

It says on the fwc site that it is required for sales of all wildlife not listed...so it sucks that you misinterpreted it, but it's there :/

I even listed my rats on it just to be safe.

Yay government being all up in your business. (Sarcasm)

It's not that cut and dry, because on the same page it says 2 very different things:

First it says that non-listed/endangered/etc. don't need a permit, but further down the page it says any species not specifically listed must have a Class III permit. I've had FWC people tell me that I don't need a permit, and others that did. I agree that it is best to just get one to be safe (or go the business route), but FWC needs to get this cleared up.

[Raven01]

This is what they were going on.

Class III Wildlife

A permit is required for personal possession, exhibition or sale of Class III wildlife. Class III wildlife are all species not listed as Class I or Class II; and not among those species that are specifically listed as not requiring a permit for personal possession in rule 68A-6.0022, FAC.
There is no formal list of Class III species. You must check the lists of Class I, Class II, and species not requiring a permit to determine if an animal in question is a Class III species. Florida residents 16 years of age and older may apply for permit to possess, exhibit or sell Class III wildlife.

Emphasis mine.

While this also exists in the same rules a contradiction but, it applies only to personal possession.

The following species do not require a permit for personal possession as long as no other Rule or Statute applies. Examples include, but are not limited to, rules for Threatened or Endangered Species:

• Button quail
• Canaries
• Chinchillas
• Cockatiels
• Doves: ringed, ruddy, and diamond
• Ferrets (domestic; European)
• Finches
• Gerbils, hedgehogs
• Guinea pigs
• Hamsters
• Honey possums, sugar gliders
• Lovebirds
• Moles; shrews
• Myna birds
• Parrots
• Prairie dogs
• Rabbits
• Rats and mice
• Reptiles or amphibians (nonvenomous, unprotected species that are NOT listed as endangered, threatened, species of special concern, conditional reptiles, or otherwise regulated)
• Shell parakeets
• Squirrels; chipmunks
• Toucans

So it looks like they have contradictory requirements that should get you off of any charges or fines for personal possession so long as you are not selling or exhibiting reptiles that fit into the "nonvenomous, unprotected species that are NOT listed as endangered, threatened, species of special concern, conditional reptiles, or otherwise regulated". Unless there is something specific hidden elsewhere in one of the linked pages.

[Neal]

Wow, the whole thing is stupid if you ask me. Regardless instead of trying to stop people selling ball pythons, they need to get out there and do something useful with the tax payers money. I mean like go find people killing endangered species or fighting dogs. I feel the same way about when the cops sit there and write seatbelt tickets. I feel there are much more useful things for them to be doing like catching murders, child molesters, rapists and people making/selling drugs. I mean a seat belt versus that, really?

EDIT:
Before anybody flames my post, please understand that I'm in law enforcement, though I work in corrections. I still stand by what I say.

[rlditmars]

Wow, the whole thing is stupid if you ask me. Regardless instead of trying to stop people selling ball pythons, they need to get out there and do something useful with the tax payers money. I mean like go find people killing endangered species or fighting dogs. I feel the same way about when the cops sit there and write seatbelt tickets. I feel there are much more useful things for them to be doing like catching murders, child molesters, rapists and people making/selling drugs. I mean a seat belt versus that, really?

EDIT:
Before anybody flames my post, please understand that I'm in law enforcement, though I work in corrections. I still stand by what I say.

Remember in this economy there is nothing more important to the local municipalities then putting money in the coffers. Arresting bad guys doing bad things costs money, it does not make it. Writing seat belt tickets and tickets that fine someone for not having spent $50 dollars on a ambiguous permit, makes money. And when they force you to buy the permit you didn't have, that is more money yet. You want an answer to a question that makes no sense. Always follow the money.

[wilomn]

This is not new. It's been around for years. My guess is they're now putting you on a list of people to watch to see what if anything you sell in the future. A ball python today could be bear gall bladders tomorrow.

You will get contradictory advice from individual officers. Get the permit. You're not going to change anyone's mind who's in the enforcement game no matter what you tell them. If they roll up on you or stop by your house, at which time I recommend NOT answering the door at all, it's guilty until proven innocent. As much as that sucks, there have been some serious buttwipes that have been busted selling illegally which is why everyone is now suspect. You just never know what someone has at home.

[MootWorm]

Wow, so sorry you had to go through that. Let me ask you this: do they also stake out pet shops selling balls to unlicensed 16 year olds? That whole provision is ridiculous. I can't believe they'd waste so much time and money on a ball python sting. Hopefully everything works out for you. Sending good thoughts your way.

[helmethead]

I have no clue if I need a lawyer or just me showing up is good enough for whatever they have in mind.