Yes, the fine ranges for all misdemeanors were set by a legislative sentencing commission and approved by the legislature. TWRA has zero say in the process.
The range for some of the Class B misdemeanors can go up to $500, but it is EXTREMELY rare to see a judge go past the starting point of the range. They can also include jail time. Again, it is rare to see that used by a judge. Wildlife crime is largely viewed as a victimless crime.
I fought one and paid one, had a few warnings. The one I fought I got by with just a $25 fine. Judge believed me. The other I paid as I was guilty. The way it used to be was all the months tickets from the month before were settled in one day in the courthouse. Maybe the 4th Wednesday. Multiple GWs at court house. While hanging out there I saw a lady with a boat cushion she wanted to show the officers, she paid her ticket. There was another guy that had a littering ticket from the GW for a night crawler box and a couple of beer cans. He claimed they weren't his. It's a fun filled day. The thing that got me was you start for a roll call in the main court room with the people in jail in orange chained up and all the other riff raff. You realize then that you are lumped in with everyone else. They then split the ones up with TWRA tickets to see the DA, pay your ticket, or see the judge. The DA tried to bluff me into paying my ticket instead of seeing the judge on the one I fought. I told him I wanted a jury trial
. He told me if it went to trial I could face 6 months in jail. Before you judge me : my high crimes have been a short fish ( gut hooked), kids not wearing life jackets in 1 ft of water anchored on a bluegill bed, hunting turkeys on day 10 of bait being removed from a feeder, the worst thing I ever did was not make the kids wear life jackets if you ask me but that was a warning.
