SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif- A new crackdown on a popular but illegal game on the Central Coast. Lawmakers want tougher fines for people involved in cockfights. There have been three cockfighting busts in San Luis Obispo County so far in 2012.
It happens in rural areas, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office says there is probably a cockfighting operation happening somewhere in the county at anytime. It takes a lot of deputies to investigate these operations, that's why officials say there should be a higher penalties.
Right now the fine for operating a cockfighting ring is $5000, but San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Deputy Darren Davidson says the highest fine he's seen is 700 bucks. A fine that is pretty easy to pay for criminals that are working in this lucrative illegal business.
A bill sitting on Governor Brown's desk would double the possible fine to 10 thousand dollars. It also cracks down on spectators. The fine for watching a cockfight is currently 1-thousand dollars but it would go up to five thousand and possibly six months in jail. Lawmakers hope the bill makes judges realize the seriousness of the crime and get tougher on the crooks.
"Increasing the fines to those involved just as spectators may actually have more of an affect than fining those that are actually engaged in the process, because it makes it a little less desirable or attractive of an idea to be present at the cockfight," says Eric Anderson, Manager of SLO County's Animal Control.
Now this proposed law will affect any criminal who is using animals to fight such as dogs and bears. Some advocates say the punishment should be raised from a misdemeanor to a felony but right now the state is trying to reduce prison costs so they pushed for increased fees.
