Every month the state conservation commission approves suspension or revocation of hunting and fishing privileges. Almost 25-hundred people lost their hunting and fishing licenses in Missouri last year. But almost two-thirds of them never violated any state hunting and fishing regulations or laws.

More than 700 people lost their privileges here because they violated wildlife laws and regulations in other states–Missouri is one of about 30 states that recognize penalties assessed by other states.

Another hundred lost their privileges for violating state hunting and fishing regulations.

But more than 16-hundred people lost their privileges because they were behind in their child support payments. The department’s executive director, Denise Brown, says some people think the suspensions are an effective way of getting the attention of people who otherwise don’t care about meeting their obligations.

Brown says the suspensions are required by state law that implements a federal program related to compliance with child support obligations. And they seem to work. She says anecdotal information indicates there’s a spike in people coming into compliance with their child support obligations just before the starts of deer and turkey seasons.

The suspensions should not be surprises to these people. They’re notified of their obligations several times by the Department of Social Services and at least once by the Conservation Department before the suspensions happen.

State law also allows the suspension of drivers licenses and even some professional licenses as part of the same child support enforcement program.

 


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