Post by Logan on Jul 8, 2016 4:57:42 GMT -6
CHEYENNE — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit from groups that challenged Wyoming laws prohibiting trespassing on private lands to collect data.
Groups including the Western Watersheds Project, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Press Photographers Association sued Wyoming last year.
The groups claimed state laws prohibiting trespassing to collect data were unconstitutional. The groups said the laws, which allowed both civil penalties and criminal prosecution, would block people from informing government regulators about such things as violations of water quality rules and illegal treatment of animals.
U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl of Casper dismissed the groups' lawsuit Wednesday, ruling there's no constitutional right to trespass on private lands.
Read more: trib.com/news/state-and-regional/federal-judge-dismisses-challenge-to-wyoming-trespassing-law/article_bbe97699-0dc1-5b14-8802-b7036c458e3d.html
Groups including the Western Watersheds Project, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Press Photographers Association sued Wyoming last year.
The groups claimed state laws prohibiting trespassing to collect data were unconstitutional. The groups said the laws, which allowed both civil penalties and criminal prosecution, would block people from informing government regulators about such things as violations of water quality rules and illegal treatment of animals.
U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl of Casper dismissed the groups' lawsuit Wednesday, ruling there's no constitutional right to trespass on private lands.
Read more: trib.com/news/state-and-regional/federal-judge-dismisses-challenge-to-wyoming-trespassing-law/article_bbe97699-0dc1-5b14-8802-b7036c458e3d.html