PDFWAC 220-340-440
Commercial crab gear—Possession of another's gear and tag tampering.
(1) Possession of gear bearing another's crab pot tag or crab buoy tag. It is unlawful for any person to possess, use, control, or operate any crab pot bearing a tag identifying the pot as belonging to another person, or any buoy not bearing tags issued by the department to the person possessing them, except:
(a) An alternate operator designated on a primary license may possess and operate crab buoys and crab pots bearing the tags of the license holder.
(b) Persons operating under a valid coastal gear recovery permit issued by the department may possess crab pots or buoys bearing the tags of another license holder, provided the permittee adheres to provisions of the permit.
(c) Persons operating under a valid coastal gear transport permit issued by the department may possess crab pots or buoys bearing the tags issued by another state, provided the permittee adheres to provisions of the permit.
(2) Violation of subsection (1) of this section is punishable under RCW 77.15.520, 77.15.522, 77.15.750, or 77.70.500, depending on the circumstances of the violation.
(3) Pot tag or buoy tag tampering. It is unlawful for any person to remove, damage, or otherwise tamper with crab buoy or pot tags not issued to that person, except: A person may possess the buoy tags or pot tags of another when the person is operating under a valid coastal gear recovery permit or emergency gear recovery permit issued by the department, and adheres to the permit's provisions.
(4) Violation of subsection (3) of this section is a gross misdemeanor punishable under RCW 77.15.180 Unlawful interference with fishing or hunting gear—Penalty.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-17-104 (Order 17-207), § 220-340-440, filed 8/18/17, effective 9/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, and 77.12.047. WSR 17-05-112 (Order 17-04), recodified as § 220-340-440, filed 2/15/17, effective 3/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.013, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047. WSR 12-23-016 (Order 12-267), § 220-52-047, filed 11/9/12, effective 12/10/12.]