OUR OPINION: VACANT STORES Time for new tactics to invigorate W-B?

Lilly E. Desiderio

First Posted: 12/20/2013 Last week&#8217;s story on a hunting checkpoint conducted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission in Wyoming County on the first Wednesday of the rifle deer season generated several responses from readers about the legality of such operations.
According to the agency, Wildlife Conservation Officers have the same authority to muster checkpoints similar to those conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police for driving under the influence. The agency also has an internal policy that calls for meeting with and/or informing the local district attorney that a checkpoint will be conducted.
A press release announcing the checkpoint was sent out by the PGC&#8217;s Northeast Region Office to various media outlets on Nov. 27.
According to Chapter 9 of the state Game and Wildlife Code, section 901 (Title 34):
(a) Powers &#8212; Any officer whose duty it is to enforce this title or any officer investigating any alleged violation of this title shall have the power and duty to:
(6) Stop any means of transportation within this Commonwealth under suspicion or under the administrative procedures for road check points. Any officer who stops any means of transportation shall be in uniform and present a badge or other means of official identification and state the purpose of the stop.
(7) Search any person or means of transportation or its attachment or occupants, or any clothing worn by any person, or any bag, clothing or container under probable cause, consent, exigent circumstances or other established exceptions to warrant requirements, provided that if any person is present the officer presents a badge or other means of official identification and states the purpose of the search.

PGC checkpoint update