Liar Law: Texas Makes Tall Fish Tales A Felony

Politicians in Texas are addressing what appears to be a pressing threat to public order: tall fish tales. Texas Sen. Glenn Hegar has introduced a bill to make it a crime to misrepresent the size or weight of a fish caught in a tournament. It is the latest example of the criminalization of American society.

The bill passed the Texas Senate unanimously and was expected to be signed by Gov. Rick Perry.

The law would apply to fresh and saltwater fishing and create a new Class A misdemeanor most of the time. However, that goes up to a third-degree felony if a tournament is offering prizes or cash of more than $10,000 with the possibility of two to 10 years in prison.

Once again, politicians increasingly view criminalization as the only way to show the importance of their cause. Such fish tales could always be charged as fraud, but Hegar wants a crime added to his legislative resume. As this trend continues, every infraction in our society from schools to fish holes is becoming a matter for the criminal justice system.

Source: NY Times

Jonathan Turley