HB 928

Abstract

Interference with commercial fishing vessels or activity; penalty. Creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who knowingly and intentionally interferes with or impedes the operation or commercial fishing activity, defined in the bill, of a commercial fishing vessel within the territorial waters of the Commonwealth. The bill deems a person to be ineligible for any hunting or fishing license for a period of one year upon a first conviction of this offense and for a period of three years upon a second or subsequent conviction. The bill also requires any person convicted of a violation of this offense to complete boating safety education.

Interference with commercial fishing vessel;penalties. Provides that a person who approaches a commercialfishing vessel without the consent of the owner or person in chargeof such vessel with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass thecaptain or crew of such vessel or interfere with the operations ofsuch vessel is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill makes ita Class 6 felony to communicate to another person by any means any threat to (i) kill or do bodily injury to a person or persons engagedin the activity of commercial fishing on the waters of the Commonwealthor (ii) bomb, burn, destroy, or in any manner damage any commercialfishing vessel, and increases this penalty to a Class 5 felony ifsuch threat places the captain or crew in reasonable apprehensionof death or bodily injury. The bill makes it a Class 6 felony tointentionally or recklessly damage, injure, tamper with, deface,or destroy a commercial fishing vessel or any associated gear. Finally,the bill deems a person to be ineligible for any hunting or fishinglicense for a certain period of time if such person is found guiltyof an offense set out in the bill.