Should Boat Tracking Devices be illegal on boats

[Dave Sikorski]

Statement from Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin
on Active Conservation Law Enforcement Investigations
February 16, 2011

Some recent public statements by lawmakers and members of the media have implied that the Maryland
Natural Resources Police may have acted improperly during their investigations of criminal violations
of fisheries laws. Those implications are completely false, and are especially troubling because the
officers are unable to defend themselves; to do so would require disclosure of details that would
seriously compromise these investigations.

The Natural Resource Police have statewide authority to enforce all State laws and investigate all
suspected criminal activity. When officers have enough information to believe certain investigative
techniques are needed, they take the information to the Circuit Court, where a judge determines
whether there is sufficient evidence to establish probable cause that criminal activity is taking place. If
probable cause is determined, the judge may then issue a warrant authorizing investigative techniques
for the police to follow during the investigation.

If the investigation results in an arrest, defense attorneys will have access to all details of the warrant
and investigative techniques, and the trial judge will determine whether the evidence was gathered
properly. The proper place for examination of these investigative procedures is the courtroom, after
the investigation is completed — not in the press or through public debate during a criminal
investigation, when all the facts cannot be disclosed.

The publicity surrounding current criminal investigations has already alerted lawbreakers, thus
reducing the chances of their being caught while committing these crimes. Disclosure of any more
detail would further compromise active investigations of these serious crimes.
The egregious poaching activities uncovered over the past few weeks — through the outstanding work
of our NRP officers — have served to underscore the critical, urgent importance of apprehending any
and all who would violate the public trust, stealing from our law abiding watermen, our citizens and our
future.

The Department of Natural Resources stands behind and in full support of our Natural Resources Police
officers, who are following proper procedures in compliance with the law. And we most respectfully
ask that Maryland's lawmakers, in their critical role as keepers of the public trust, support our
conservation officers and allow them to conduct these investigations on behalf of the citizens of our
State. To do otherwise further jeopardizes the integrity of criminal investigations, the health of our
fragile resources, and the safety of our law enforcement officers.

[000's]

For enforcement
I got tired of doing the right thing and watch everyone else go over the 3mile line catch fish and keep their charters happy.I can tell you one thing if i had it to do all over again.I would be like everyone else go fishing,and the fine ,just cost of doing business!