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WhoaitsZ · 06-24-2003, 04:50 PM

followup

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-locgatorfine24062403jun24,0,1432704.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Man's fine for roping alligator dropped

By Robert Perez and Mark K. Matthews TAVARES -- Days after levying a $180 fine against a Lake County man who lassoed a 5-foot-long alligator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials rescinded the ticket and replaced it with a warning.

Monday's decision comes after a weekend of public outcry over Saturday's citation to Michael McCormick of Astatula. Earlier last week, an alligator killed a 12-year-old boy near where McCormick lassoed his gator.

Since the attack, Lake County and its surrounding communities have been on edge as residents continue to phone in gator-related emergency calls.

Joy Hill, a spokeswoman for the wildlife agency, said this mood played a part in their decision to downgrade the fine.

But she insisted that the warning must stick because "if people start to take things into their own hands, there is going to be more attacks and bites."

But at first, McCormick, 35, said the downgrade wasn't good enough.

"I would prefer the warning over the ticket, but to me this is still punishing someone. I didn't do anything wrong," he said. Later, after listening to legal advice, McCormick agreed not to appeal the warning.

McCormick said he was thinking about last week's fatal attack on Bryan Griffin when he decided to rope the alligator about noon Saturday. The gator was headed to cross the road toward a woman holding two infants and with two children at her side. He dragged it back and called emergency officials.

Hill insisted the current rules are legitimate.

"We've had a nuisance alligator law on the books for 24 years and it works quite well," she said. "People need to understand. If they have a nuisance alligator, they need to call 911."

06-24-2003, 04:50 PM	#21 (permalink)
WhoaitsZ Crazy Location: right behind you...	followup http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-locgatorfine24062403jun24,0,1432704.story?coll=orl-home-headlines Man's fine for roping alligator dropped By Robert Perez and Mark K. Matthews TAVARES -- Days after levying a $180 fine against a Lake County man who lassoed a 5-foot-long alligator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials rescinded the ticket and replaced it with a warning. Monday's decision comes after a weekend of public outcry over Saturday's citation to Michael McCormick of Astatula. Earlier last week, an alligator killed a 12-year-old boy near where McCormick lassoed his gator. Since the attack, Lake County and its surrounding communities have been on edge as residents continue to phone in gator-related emergency calls. Joy Hill, a spokeswoman for the wildlife agency, said this mood played a part in their decision to downgrade the fine. But she insisted that the warning must stick because "if people start to take things into their own hands, there is going to be more attacks and bites." But at first, McCormick, 35, said the downgrade wasn't good enough. "I would prefer the warning over the ticket, but to me this is still punishing someone. I didn't do anything wrong," he said. Later, after listening to legal advice, McCormick agreed not to appeal the warning. McCormick said he was thinking about last week's fatal attack on Bryan Griffin when he decided to rope the alligator about noon Saturday. The gator was headed to cross the road toward a woman holding two infants and with two children at her side. He dragged it back and called emergency officials. Hill insisted the current rules are legitimate. "We've had a nuisance alligator law on the books for 24 years and it works quite well," she said. "People need to understand. If they have a nuisance alligator, they need to call 911." Last edited by WhoaitsZ; 06-24-2003 at 04:52 PM..