Local Senator Aims To Toughen Cockfighting Laws

An Inland Empire lawmaker's bill seeking to dramatically increase fines for people convicted of hosting or betting on cockfights is expected to be heard next month by the state Senate Committee on Public Safety.

Sen. Bill Emmerson, R-Hemet, said Senate Bill 1145 is intended to strengthen state laws aimed at deterring cockfighting.

"(This) is a cruel and unusual sport that appears to be on the rise in the Inland Southern California region and throughout our state," Emmerson said. "Clearly, our penalties and fines are not stiff enough to prevent this brutal sport from taking place."

Under SB 1145, the fine imposed on an individual convicted of staging a cockfight would double from $5,000 to $10,000. The senator is also seeking to increase the penalty on spectators, or those placing bets during cockfighting events. The fine is $1,000, but under Emmerson's bill it would jump to $5,000.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office and the Humane Society of the United States are supporting the legislation.

"Doubling the fines for this vicious blood sport will give cockfighters extra incentive to abandon their cruel ways, potentially saving countless animals," said Humane Society Law Enforcement Specialist Eric Sakach.

In the last two weeks, Riverside County law enforcement officials have conducted two large-scale raids on suspected cockfighting operations, one in Jurupa Valley and another in Good Hope. to read about the Good Hope raid.

In the latter case, 125 live gamecocks and 21 dead ones were seized. According to a county Department of Animal Services official, the birds are generally always euthanized because of their aggressiveness.

Emmerson's bill, which was introduced Tuesday, is slated to be reviewed by the public safety committee in the last week of March.