January 23, 2013 |
2013-R-0055 | |
BLIND PEOPLE EXEMPT FROM FISHING REQUIREMENTS | ||
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By: Janet L. Kaminski Leduc, Senior Legislative Attorney | ||
You asked if any states exempt people who are blind from state fishing requirements.
SUMMARY
In seven states (Arizona, Delaware, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia), people who are blind may fish legally without obtaining a fishing license. In eight other states (California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Vermont), people who are blind may obtain a free fishing license.
None of these 15 states exempt people who are blind from other fishing requirements (e.g., minimum length and possession limits). And Georgia explicitly requires people who receive free fishing licenses to comply with all wildlife laws, rules, and regulations.
FISHING LICENSES FOR BLIND PEOPLE
Table 1 provides details on the 15 states that either exempt blind people from needing a fishing license or provide free fishing licenses to blind people.
Table 1: State Fishing Licenses for Blind People
State |
Citation |
Description |
Arizona |
Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 17-335 |
A blind person can fish without a fishing license, but such person is entitled to 1/2 the legal bag and possession limit of trout. |
California |
Cal. Fish & Game Code § 7151 |
A blind person can obtain a free sport fishing license if he or she has not been convicted of a Fishing and Game Code violation. |
Connecticut |
A blind person can obtain a free lifetime fishing license. | |
Delaware |
Del. Code Ann. tit. 7, § 502 |
A blind person is exempt from needing a fishing license. |
Georgia |
Ga. Code Ann. § 27-2-4 |
A blind person can obtain a free, honorary fishing license. All honorary licenses are subject to all wildlife laws, rules, and regulations. |
Maryland |
Md. Code Ann., Nat. Res. §§ 4-604 and 4-745 |
A blind person can obtain a free angler's license and a free coastal sport fishing license. |
Massachusetts |
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 131, § 11 |
A blind person can obtain a free fishing license. |
New Hampshire |
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 214:2 |
A blind person can obtain a free lifetime fishing license. |
Ohio |
Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1533.12 |
A blind person who cannot fish without assistance from another person can obtain a free fishing license. |
Oklahoma |
Okla. Stat. tit. 29, § 4-110 |
A blind person is exempt from needing a fishing license. |
Pennsylvania |
30 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2709 |
A blind person is exempt from needing a fishing license. |
Rhode Island |
R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-2-31 |
A blind person is exempt from needing a fresh water fishing license. |
Vermont |
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 10, § 4255 |
A blind person can obtain a free fishing license. |
Virginia |
Va. Code Ann. § 29.1-301 |
A blind person is exempt from needing a fishing license. |
West Virginia |
W. Va. Code § 20-2-28 |
A blind person is exempt from needing a fishing license. |
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