Ticketed at Doran last friday

I keep my license in the pocket of my spray jacket, even if I'm sea kayaking and not fishing - just in case I pick up some mussels or something.

Dick Mallory

So here's my take on this discussion;
The law says an angler MUST have license in immediate possession, with the exception of some specific situations.
That's it, no need to bicker.
If you break the law, you get a ticket.
Yes, there are always extenuating circumstances, but that's why you are allowed to argue in court.
Of course this law may be outdated, but obviously, not enough anglers have complained about it to get the law changed. Sure many complain (or wine as the case may be) here, but that is like the employees complaining about a policy around the water cooler, but never actually filling a legit complaint.
Yes,
We are human, and make mistakes .....
Yes,
The law may be out dated ...
But,
The law is the law ...
And until it is properly contested, it will be enforced.
;0)

On a trip a couple years ago from SWS, the inflatable boat came to check out three of us out just past the "no fish zone".  The other two guys in the group left their license in the car.  The DFG was cool enough to let them paddle off to get it w/o a ticket.  Sometimes the law can be lenient.

Best incident I have heard of, a couple customers told me they went out on the rockfish opener a few years ago and "forgot" to buy their license. When they showed in court to plead their "forgetfulness". The judge gave them a choice ...... Loose their gear and fish privilege for a year, or buy a lifetime license.
They were glad to purchase the lifetime license. At least they got some use out of the $$ spent.
Sounded more than fair to me

Best incident I have heard of, a couple customers told me they went out on the rockfish opener a few years ago and "forgot" to buy their license. When they showed in court to plead their "forgetfulness". The judge gave them a choice ...... Loose their gear and fish privilege for a year, or buy a lifetime license.
They were glad to purchase the lifetime license. At least they got some use out of the $$ spent.
Sounded more than fair to me

I wish we knew the name of that judge. I'd like to add him to my holiday card list.

I still wear mine as a necklace.

I keep mine in my wallet. And use a dry bag when in yak. But this could be up dated with the times. And I think you could get all fishermen and hunters to sign for an  Ballot initiative, State wide. I can't think of a hunter or fisherman that would not sign for this Initiative. I'm sure there is a lawyer that fishes or hunts. That can agree the electronic system that we the Tax payers have paid for. Should also be used to our benefit. So now we need to find a lawyer or politician to introduce such an initiative to the state Ballot process. So I ask is there any here. I can write my local California Representative. But I think it will be hard to get passed in the state representatives or Senate. They will see a loss in F&W revenue, so in my opinion it has to go to a vote of the people. Then we will have to fight the animal rights groups. But thia is the only way this issue will ever be fixed. Other than that were beating a dead horse.   

This is an interesting thread, again,

The reg under discussion can't get any easier for us.  Just have your license on you when fishing, diving admittedly is a bit different, and the reg says so.

I'm not willing to spend 1 tax dollar, or take up 1 minute of a Wardens day to make it any easier for me.  Resources are finite and I prefer they got used for something else,

Electronics aren't 100% reliable, having your license in your immediate possession is. 

There are ways that technology can make allot of things more efficient, and the state is way behind in many areas no argument about that.

California is often called a Nanny State, passing laws to protect us that border on being ridiculous.

I could go so far as to say this is a Nanny argument, in that some want the state to do something to alleviate me from having to carry something that takes up almost zero space and is virtually weightless.

I still wear mine as a necklace.

I, generally, do to.

i can write the language after the holiday. IMitigation drives are expensive, this is more of a regulatory matter. Do we have any friends at cal wild? 

It would be nice if the DFW commissioners that actually spent time in the outdoors weren't so controversial.

My chum and I were digging clams on the far side of Tomalas Bay. The wardens boat landed and checked our clams and licenses. My buddy had left his license in the car at Nics Cove. He asked the warden if he could go back and get it. The warden had some other folks to check down the beach so he said ok. My buddy motored back got the license and presented it to the warden and all was good. This warden was an exception. Most of these guys and especially gals want blood now and every drop they can get.

Last time I was at Doran there was a warden in plain cloths at the landing and two others in uniform backing him up at a distance. A couple of bozos had taken 28 crabs, eight over. They had called their buddy to drive out to Doran so they would have three licenses. Well the buddy didn't arrive in time and they got the hammer dropped on them as well they should have.

I have respect for DFG for that kind of bus but when they write $600 tickets for being 3/32" under on a 22" fish that has been gutted and rigoring in the back of my truck for almost an hour and read the story of the poster who reeled in his kinds line at a fishing derby I lose all that respect I have for them and the process. It,s not about stoping poaching at that point it's about how many tickets can they write.

  I forgot to say on my post that the dfg guy that was able to check and see if I had a license with his smart phone and my drivers license told me. If the internet didn't work, (it wouldn't have out on the water), they wouldn't have a choice.

So ... it looks like this thread has been thoroughly   

I had my license checked recently at Timber Cove.  It's so faded that the numbers are no longer legible.  The warden laughed and said "I know I have checked you before, no problem.  You should probably fold it inward so it doesn't fade, next time."  I noticed that when I bought my 2015 license last week, it was no longer necessary to input the number on the license to get the new one.  The log-in now allows a California ID or driver's license number to be input.  It really would make sense for the enforcement folks to utilize a little more technology.  I think the courts have far more important things to do than deal with a "forgotten license criminal".

Too bad they can't issue a fishing license in combination to your driver license and issue the magnetic strip card reader to the Wardens like they do to CHP or Sheriff. They could tie in the reader to their VHF radio and get the data back that way. 
I've seen those readers on retailers iPads even.  An officer could have the iPad and an auto download of the license database updated automatically each day so he doesn't even need to be within cell, WiFi, or VHF radio coverage. 

The technology is already out there.  Getting it into the hands of the field force is what is lacking. 

Heck!  Disney has a wrist band that can be scanned and tied to a thumbprint and we are still dealing with a paper license?