Wasilla man fined $320 for false residency claim on a fishing and hunting license

A 63-year-old Wasilla man was cited and fined $320 for making a false statement on a resident sport fishing and hunting license application near Kenai, the Department of Public Safety said Saturday. Alaska Wildlife Troopers opened the case on a public tip.

The maximum fine for the offense is $300 when there is no proof the person knew the statement was false. The remaining $20 is a mandatory surcharge that cannot be waived.

State law defines an Alaska resident as someone who has maintained a domicile in the state for the 12 consecutive months before the claim and who is not claiming residency or receiving residency benefits anywhere else.

That definition survived a challenge this month. Lawmakers passed House Bill 93 to tighten it, but Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed the bill Aug. 10, saying it would impose an "unnecessarily restrictive residency standard" that could exclude military members, students, pilots and seniors who genuinely live in Alaska. Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, the sponsor, said the bill was meant to tighten how the state defines residency for hunting and fishing.