Florida Passes ban. Say good bye to your ROCs

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/politic...-92325419.html

Wow. Commiserations you guys.

Well, no more plans to move to Florida! Let's hope at least that this stops them from going for nation-wide crap... Sucks that they did this, but a statewide ban makes a lot more sense than a national one.

Terrible. Im sure this will affect the Daytona show tremendously.

So what happens to people who already own these 7 species of snakes? Do they have to forfeit their animals? Or would FL Fish and Wildlife keep tabs on hobbyist with these 7 species?

This is just sad!

Originally Posted by Payara

So what happens to people who already own these 7 species of snakes? Do they have to forfeit their animals? Or would FL Fish and Wildlife keep tabs on hobbyist with these 7 species?

From my understanding you can keep what you have but after it dies thats it.

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sectio...8&Session=2010

This is a .pdf of the bill. Pay attention to what is crossed out.

It's proof they jumped the gun and chose not to spend money to do effective and truthful scientific research.

It is a truly sad day for reptile enthusiasts everywhere

Originally Posted by Ehatcher

Terrible. Im sure this will affect the Daytona show tremendously.

This new law won't have any affect on the Daytona show that already isn't there. When the state put the ROC (reptile of concern) permiting system into place some of the Daytona vendors that sold the ROC animals backed out then. These animals can still be sold at Daytona but you need the proper documentation to buy one, and if you live out of state you can buy it there and it has to be shipped to you.

You will now need to be a commercial dealer to buy, sell, and breed these. They can be bought and sold, to and from licensed commercial dealers in Florida, licensed dealers can also continue to breed them. They are also allowed to do out of state sales. There is no importation allowed.

Anyone can be a commercial reptile dealer in Florida. It accually costs less then an ROC permit.

Originally Posted by Payara

So what happens to people who already own these 7 species of snakes? Do they have to forfeit their animals? Or would FL Fish and Wildlife keep tabs on hobbyist with these 7 species?

If you currently have an ROC permit you can keep your animal untill it dies. You cannot add any more to your collection, and you cannot replace it when it dies. If you want to continue to own them, you have to become a commercial dealer, which is easy. Basically what they are trying to do is take them out of the hands of the general public who owns them as pets.
Commercial businesses are not being blamed for the released animals, pet owners are the ones being blamed.

Basically, if you get caught with one of the animals on the list and you are not a commercial dealer and you were not grandfathered in when the law takes affect, you will see stiffer penelties.

July 1, 2010 is when the law cahnges.

What has happened here is only the beginning. The animals rights people are going to keep pushing their agenda because they have the money to do it. It's a shame that our rights are being taken away. Other states have passed laws recently, and there will be more to come.

Pretty soon we won't be allowed to have grass in our yards, because it creaps over into our neighbors yard. So, I guess that is an invasive species.