” which not only told commercial fishing vessel owners that they had to take federal fish inspectors on board but also had to pay the inspectors’ costs.”
This almost sounds like a Third Amendment violation, namely, being forced to quarter soldiers in one’s domicile.
Jackasses never change. These people would have loved to be on the British side during the Revolutionary War.
It does. It also sounds like a 1A violation, freedom of association and a due process violation. The presumption is the fisherman are going to break the law so they need “monitors” to make sure they don’t? Plus, they have to pay the cost of these inspectors? That’s what taxpayer money is for. I don’t know what the arguments are in the case but it’s definitely gone too far if the government can force you to hire government employees to watch over you while you work.
Moreover, they were required to pay them $710 per day. These are very small vessels, drag nets for herring, that usually have a crew of 4-6 people, including the captain. Many vessels are lucky to make $500-1000 daily (total haul), and a couple grand when the herring are running.
In essence, the Federal Marine Fisheries agency was forcing them out of business.