Point & Suspension Systems
Table A |
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# |
Violation |
Pt. |
1 |
Resisting arrest by force, violence, or weapons against the person of any law enforcement officer enforcing natural resource laws |
18 |
2 |
Attempting escape after arrest |
14 |
3 |
Hunting or fishing in a state sanctuary |
14 |
4 |
Hunting, fishing, or trapping out of season |
10 |
5 |
Unlawful selling of game or game fish |
14 |
6 |
Using a borrowed or altered hunting or fishing license, permit, stamp, or tag |
10 |
7 |
Taking more than the legal limit of game or fish (except striped bass) |
8 |
8 |
Hunting or fishing without a proper license, permit, stamp, or tag |
6 |
9 |
Trespassing to hunt, fish, or trap |
14 |
10 |
Intentional trespassing to hunt, fish, or trap |
18 |
11 |
Violating Wildlife Management Area regulations |
8 |
12 |
Unlawful hunting, taking, possessing, or selling alligators |
14 |
13 |
Killing or attempting to kill or molest deer from a motorboat |
14 |
14 |
Night hunting deer or bear |
18 |
15 |
Unlawful transportation of furs or hides and possession of untagged hides |
10 |
16 |
Trapping quail or turkeys |
10 |
17 |
Unlawful hunting over bait |
8 |
18 |
Unlawful killing or possession of antlerless deer |
14 |
19 |
Unlawful night hunting other game, except deer or bear, or hunting during prohibited or after hours |
8 |
20 |
Unlawful possession of buckshot |
5 |
21 |
Hunting migratory birds with an unplugged gun |
4 |
22 |
Killing or possession of wild turkey during the closed season |
18 |
23 |
Killing or possession of a hen turkey during the spring gobbler season |
14 |
24 |
Roost shooting turkey between one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise |
18 |
25 |
Shooting turkey over bait (game taken) |
18 |
26 |
Hunting turkey over bait (no game taken) |
10 |
27 |
Failing to report the harvest of a wild turkey |
6 |
28 |
Trespassing to hunt waterfowl |
18 |
29 |
Hunting waterfowl over bait |
10 |
30 |
Shooting waterfowl over bait (game taken) |
10 |
31 |
Hunting waterfowl out of season |
15 |
32 |
Taking or possession of more than one waterfowl over the legal limit |
15 |
33 |
Unlawful possession, taking, or attempting to take raccoons during the season for hunting without firearms |
14 |
34 |
Trapping, netting, or seining game fish unlawfully |
10 |
35 |
Taking game or fish in any illegal manner not specifically mentioned elsewhere in the point systems |
8 |
36 |
Taking or possessing an undersized striped bass |
14 |
37 |
Taking or possessing more than the legal limit of striped bass |
14 |
38 |
Taking or possessing more than the legal creel or size limit of blue catfish. |
14 |
Table B Saltwater Points |
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Saltwater points are assessed in two categories: Recreational and Commercial. Upon an accumulation of eighteen (18) or more points in a category, the privileges of that category will be suspended for one year. While under Recreational Suspension, a person found guilty of a commercial saltwater violation will have all saltwater privileges suspended for one year. While under Commercial Suspension, a person found guilty of a recreational violation will have all saltwater privileges suspended for one year. |
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# |
Violation |
Pt. |
1 |
Failing to keep records or make reports as required by law, permit or regulation |
4 |
2 |
Violations of law pertaining to crab size limit or sponge crabs |
4 |
3 |
Violations of a section of Title 50 pertaining to saltwater fisheries not mentioned specifically in this section (NOTE: This point assessment applies to all other convictions that are not specifically mentioned herein. Any conviction for a violation of a saltwater fisheries law will be assessed a minimum of 6 points). |
6 |
4 |
Taking, attempting to take, or possessing fish, shellfish or crustaceans in an unlawful manner, in unlawful or closed areas, during unlawful hours, or during the closed season except trawling violations |
8 |
5 |
Selling or offering for sale fish, shellfish, crustaceans, or other seafood or marine products without a proper license, permit, stamp, or tag |
8 |
6 |
Violating Department of Health and Environmental Control regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 44-1-140 related to the harvesting and handling of shellfish resulting in adulterated product as defined in Regulation 61-47 |
10 |
7 |
Unlawfully buying fish, shellfish, crustaceans or other seafood or marine products without a proper license, permit, stamp or tag |
8 |
8 |
Trawling inside the General Trawling Zone other than in restricted areas: (a) more than one quarter nautical mile during the closed season (b) more than one quarter nautical mile at a time more than ten minutes before daily opening or ten minutes after daily closing times during the open season |
10 10 |
9 |
Trawling in a restricted area during the closed season |
10 |
10 |
Trawling outside the General Trawling Zone: (a) one hundred yards or less distance from the nearest point of the General Trawling Zone during the open season (b) more than one hundred yards distance from the nearest point of the General Trawling Zone during the open season (c) during the closed season |
10 18 18 |
11 |
Taking or attempting to take fish, shellfish or crustaceans for a commercial purpose without a proper license, permit, stamp or tag |
10 |
12 |
Captain or crew of a boat failing to cooperate with an enforcement officer |
18 |
13 |
Channel netting in an area closed to channel netting or during closed season for channel netting |
18 |
14 |
Applying for or obtaining any resident license as provided in this chapter using a falsified application or supporting documentation, or simultaneously possessing any current, valid South Carolina resident license as provided in this chapter while possessing any resident license from another state |
18 |
Table C Statutory Suspensions |
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Many laws pertaining to natural resources and boating contain mandatory suspensions. These suspensions start upon conviction and run for specified times according to law. These suspensions will affect privileges and may affect licenses, permits, stamps, tags or registrations. Examples of violations for which suspensions are mandated include, but are not limited to: |
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A |
Hunting from a public road |
1 year |
B |
Unlawfully taking a wild turkey |
1 year |
C |
Conspiracy to violate natural resource laws |
1 year |
D |
Obtaining a license, permit, stamp, or tag by fraud |
1 year |
E |
Altering, post dating, borrowing, or lending a license, permit, stamp, or tag |
1 year |
F |
Criminal, negligent use of a firearm |
1 to 5 years |
G |
Boating under the influence |
6 months to 5 years |
H |
Trawling violations |
1 year |
I |
Killing a Bald Eagle |
5 years |
J |
Failure to pay fines or restitution |
Suspended until payment is received |
K |
Third (3) offense negligent operation of a watercraft |
6 months |
L |
Bear violations |
3 years |
M |
Impeding the right to hunt, fish, or trap |
1 year |