this is a post from another message board, but it answers some questions someone had here:

Can you say OUCH really loud??? I now can.

You may remember my post last month about the DFG Ticket I received on May 31. I had just plain ole forgot and left my license at home.

Anyway I told you all I would let you know how it turned out. Seeing that today I had my day in court here is what happened.

When asked how I pled, I responded ”Guilty” before I could get another word out the Judge imposed a $690.00 fine… I politely requested “Your Honor may I please make a statement if it would please the court?” He responded “Lets hear it!” I then explained that I did posses a valid fishing license and that I had inadvertently left it at home that day. I also told him that the DFG Officer had instructed me to bring my valid license with me and show it to you (the Judge) and explained that it was purchased January 11, 2002 so I obviously had it well in advance of the citation.

The Judge responded “In that case Mr. Durham this court fines you $150.00!” I guess the look of disbelief on my face made him ask “Any thing else, do you have something to say?” I made the mistake of stating I felt the fine seemed excessive for such an honest mistake (HINT: Don’t Do That). He responded “Son you are lucky you brought your license with you, if you had a valid license, which you do but would have failed to bring it with you today I would have upheld the $690.00 fine. I will however give you a choice of paying the $150.00 fine or changing your plea to NOT GUILTY at which point we will set a trial date and have the DFG Officer present, if he says you did not have a license with you that day your fine will be $690.00 plus additional court costs.” Needless to say I shut my mouth, thanked the Judge and said I would be willing to pay the $150.00 fine today. Mind you now this was only an infraction but Holy Crap.