Recently my Representative sent out an email requesting that we send him suggestions for new laws. I just sent him a note about trespassing laws. In his email he said this is the time that legislators are putting together bills and trying to get support from other legislators from both sides of the aisle.
I would suggest that everyone who gives a damn send their rep an email asking the trespass laws and punishment to be increased.
Here is a copy and paste of what I sent him:
Nate, thanks for serving and giving me this opportunity to suggest new or modifications to existing laws.
I, and many others, would like to see the fines increased for trespassing. Currently the fines or punishment do not act as much of a deterrent to trespassing. Granted it is a low impact crime, unless you are the one impacted by the crime.
Trespassing is on the rise as documented by land owners with game cameras set to take photographs of deer or other game on their properties only to get photographs of criminals trespassing on their land. Many of these trespasses result in loss of property, mainly hunting stands and the cameras themselves as well as potential poaching. While it may be difficult to prove the trespasser was the person responsible for the “disappearance” of the tree stands, cameras or poaching they were none the less trespassing and need to be held accountable and fined or punished more than they are now. There needs to be more of a deterrent to trespassing.
Laws only keep honest people honest but in this case well documented prosecution resulting in large fines, incarceration, probation or loss of other privileges may act as more of a deterrent to trespassing.
I believe this issue would be popular on both sides of the aisle. I am sure any bill introduced to strengthen the trespass laws in Iowa would have a positive reception not only from hunting organizations such as the Iowa Bowhunters Association, Iowa Whitetails Forever, TIP and Pheasants Forever but land owner groups such as the Farm Bureau.
Now is the time to contact your reps. Ask them to pre file a bill and then hammer any groups you hold membership in to support the bill.