WARNING for Florida herpers!

[sho220]

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.

I doubt if they even make money. It's probably costing them more than 50 bucks to write a ticket for 50 bucks...unless the cop is working for free, all the people who process the tickets are working for free, the tickets are printed up for free, the people processing payments are working for free, etc...

[Kodieh]

It's also now the court house, judge, city representation, etc.

They're really not making money but trying to come up even on their expenses.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 4

[sho220]

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

Can't you get a short consultation free from most law offices? Pretty sure they do. Might be a good idea to give a few a call and ask to see if you should lawyer up or just fight the nonsense yourself...

[steve_r34]

y dont u just tell them it was personal and that u couldnt take care of it no more .. that u dont sell them u were just selling this one cause u couldnt afford to keep it no more

[wienkeg]

consult a lawyer, find out what the penalty is. (maybe just a little fine).

if the penalty is less than a lawyer, fight it on your own. If the lawyer is less than the penalty, hire a lawyer. Sounds like a decent lawyer will rip this case to shreds. Actually, looks like you'd have a good shot

Did they actually arrest you, or just give a ticket?

Good thing it wasn't me, I would've drawn my weapon...

[sho220]

Good thing it wasn't me, I would've drawn my weapon...

And???


don't leave us in suspense...

[Gessler]

****WARNING****
Everyone here in Florida selling/buying ANY snake or anything considered a wild animal(tame or otherwise) MUST have a $50 permit from the FWC.
Today I met a guy to sell a pastel ball python, no big deal, right? Well, as soon as the money changed hands,
FWC pulled up lights flashing, guns drawn. I've been trading for a few years now and this is the first time
anyone ever mentioned the fact that you must possess said permit. I would have had it had l known,
but ignorance of the law doesn't matter. Now I have a court date and so on.
Be for warn......
Now I'm scared to use my cell phone, no mention of meeting time/place ever mentioned on anything but our phones, WOW! Scary Stuff..

Unbelievable. Its not like you were black-marketing an orca whale, white siberian tiger, a few polar bears, and a dozen or so clubbed baby seals...

On a serious note. I've looked in to the laws considering animal trade in Florida.

Fact: It does not mention 'ball python' anywhere considering private animal sale. It is somewhat grey.
Fact: This is Amurica! You are innocent until proven guilty.


I have high hopes for you, and wish you the best of luck with this.

[Gessler]

y dont u just tell them it was personal and that u couldnt take care of it no more .. that u dont sell them u were just selling this one cause u couldnt afford to keep it no more

Well, if they just so happened to track his cell phone calls... Which there are programs out there that do happen to flag calls when certain words are mentioned in violation of laws. The 'Rex' being one of them. I'm pretty sure they've seen this thread already IF they are trying to build a case. Don't offer alibis. I think honesty is the best policy here. The grey areas in the law are too grey to be overlooked in this case. It was an innocent pet sale. Like the above post... Any decent lawyer will jump right at this, odds are in your favor my friend.

[MootWorm]

OP, are you sure the other party wasn't part of the setup? That would make perfect sense, no call monitoring required.

[Gessler]

OP, are you sure the other party wasn't part of the setup? That would make perfect sense, no call monitoring required.

x2