Bill > AB298

This bill, an amendment to Section 12000 of the Fish and Game Code, proposes to classify violations of specific regulations concerning marine protected areas, marine managed areas, and special closures as either an infraction (a minor offense typically punishable by a fine) or a misdemeanor (a more serious offense, often punishable by jail time and a fine), with some exceptions. These exceptions mean that a violation will not be treated as an infraction or misdemeanor if the person involved holds a commercial fishing license or a commercial passenger fishing boat license, or if the violation occurred within two years of a previous conviction for the same regulation. This change aims to provide a clearer framework for penalizing violations related to these protected marine environments, distinguishing them from general violations of the Fish and Game Code, which are typically misdemeanors.