Other Turtle Discussion :: Reptile law in FL

[DanielRES1180]

For the link to the original document click here.

I found out about this wierd thing this morning listening to the radio, and I got worried considering they were mentioning the punishments if you break this law. So I called trying to figure out if the list of specific reptiles
under this law were RES, but the person didn't know the details (go figure). But I did find out the following when I was skimming the document.

1) Owners of venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern will be required to pay a license every year to keep these reptiles. The license costs $100, both to recieve it and to renew it.

2) People who release non-native species or species of concern will pay heavy fines ($750 or so) and possibly serve jail time, according to the radio.

According to the radio, several turtle species are included in the list of reptiles of concern, why I'm posting this here. I don't know which yet, but if I get ahold of some info, I'll be sure to post it ASAP.
If this bill becomes law it could go into effect as soon as this July or January of next year.

[DavidY]

Wow, good post Daniel. That's going to upset a lot of venomous reptile owners down there. I wouldn't doubt that RES will be on that "no release" list as they are considered a pest to the native wildlife. But they do need to clamp down on people releasing their non-native pets into the environment like that. Just another folly of man messing up the earth like he always has. (sigh)

[DanielRES1180]

As far as I know, owners of venomous reptiles already had restrictions like this where they had to mess around with the licences, but I would consider it a good thing with the clamp down on the release of non-native species, like RES.
I think this whole thing started when a guy's house burned down two towns from here, and he wanted to stay at a neighbor's house. And believe it or not, he wanted to bring all of his reptiles with him. Over 100 snakes, turtles, and lizards, including gila monsters and everything in between.

edit to the last post: The radio said also that there was also a planned restriction on the number of reptiles on the list that you can have. I think the limit was set at no more than two of these, or face penalties.

[Turtle addict]

Straight from a person who is helping to fight these laws and sits on the commities who make them....The 5 snake law has been passed -this includes the two retics, burmese, anaconda, and another one I can't remember. This law also includes the teagu, and the nile monitor. The law has passed on these, when you buy one it has to be pit tagged {micro chipped} and you HAVE to have a license. The license is free now but later {after Febuary next year} it will be $100 a year and the state can come in at any time and check your caging, and scan the animal to make sure it's tagged.

Now the red ear law...it is only in proposal right now...we have time to fight this! Imagine one state imposing the same law already passed for red ears. May sound like a good thing but think about this...when people have to pay $100 a year for a res and not a map, tort, whatever then which are they gonna buy? This year red ears next year yellow bellys and maps, the year after cooters and muds and musks. This is our right to have these animals and not pay these outrageous things to keep them. How many cats and dogs are let loose yet those are not chipped, or permitted to keep them. Why reptiles? Because some idiot doesn't understand them and choose to fine us for understanding them. Where is my right to keep an animal when I chose to do so without permits? I understand the venomous and dangerous ones but then you have the news stories out there, how many times the last year have you heard about someones turtle or snake out in the yard biting and killing the neighbor kid, now how many times have ya seen that dog on there? I love all animals this is JUST a compairason.

This is only in Florida right now...but once one state does it the next one will follow and it'll be easier to do it in the next one. No matter what we do there will be idiots out there that will be stupid and treat animals the wrong way, and let them lose, making these laws WILL NOT change that, education will.

[DanielRES1180]

Wow, so RES are in the list. If that's the case, we need to fight it, because it's outrageous when you have all of this mess just for a reptile. Besides,
you don't see anyone saying anything about street cats or dogs that were turned loose or run away, so why such double-standards. Good point though.

[DavidY]

Man that stinks! I hate those kinds of laws too. Limiting the number of snakes you can own and charging $100 per year to own them is ridiculous! Are they actually going to require a license and fee to own a RES?? I can understand fines for releasing one into the wild, but restricting ownership like that is pathetic. Good ol' Big Brother.

[Tertule]

I'm not really for the $100 renewal thing, but man, imagine how many yokles wouldn't own turtles that shouldn't own turtles.

[DavidY]

Yea, but think of all the people who are good turtle parents who would be saddled with a totally unnecessary expense making it that much harder for them to care properly for their charges.

[Tertule]

It's a tough topic. On one hand the state wants to basically charge you 10 bucks a month to own a turtle. One the other, there are too many animals out there, not just turtles, that are bought then neglected.

I would pony up some dinero to help conservation efforts in exchange for owning an "exotic" pet...or something to that effect, this topic is so vast to cover it all, and I don't want to "offend" anyone by grinding out all the minute details of the thing.

[Hoooneylynn]

I can understand the fines of the release of non-native species, but the licensure? ridiculous. How are they going to enforce this for people who already own turtles? And where is that money going to?? I would fight that. Go for it!

[kornygerm]

A license?.just to keep my babies?pfft..

i feel like if this gets passed, and owners dont have/want to pay these money, they are just gonna get rid of them or set them loose, hope im wrong.

[Hoooneylynn]

I agree.. thats gonna create an even bigger problem.

[Turtle addict]

All red ears would have to be micro chipped and the license will have the number on it, if it's found in the wild then you pay a HUGE fine. This their way of keeping non-native species from taking over...HELLO there are already res in every pond and lake here. Once they get res then it'll be something else. They will leave it open to add more as they see fit! The Orlando Turtle and Tortoise club is all fighting this as well as alot of others, there are a heck of alot of breeders here and $100 for everyone would be insane! I have 11 red ears and would hve issues keeping them all with the permits.

[megcornell]

I get the feeling this would turn out a lot like the requirement to have a dog license here in NY-- some people comply, most don't-- and the only time the non-compliers get caught is when something happens with their dog i.e. the dog attacks someone. It's best to err on the side of caution and get your dog licensed because they're always out in public and have a higher risk of getting lost etc., but turtles remain in your home, no one has to see them, so I doubt this is very enforceable... except in those rare instances where some schmuck has 12 boas he has neglected and now one's gotten out and eaten his elderly neighbor . It seems to me that this is more of something they can use to penalize people when they're caught, but not to really harm the turtle and reptile owners who keep their hobbies within reasonable and controllable limits.

[jenaero]

Am I the only one here that agrees with this? I think having to pay $100 for a licence renewal every year is a good idea. In fact, the fee should be higher. It would decrease the spontaneous purchases of reptiles. If someone can't afford to pay the $100 anually, they probably shouldn't be keeping pets in the first place because unexpected expenses come up all the time. Just my 2 cents