The Virginia Senate has decided that conservation police officers can continue to routinely check whether fishermen and hunters are properly licensed and whether they've exceeded creel or bag limits.

Republican Sen. Richard Stuart of Stafford County proposed repealing a law that allows the officers, formerly called game wardens, to stop and check sportsmen without probable cause that they've committed a crime. Stuart said conservation officers are the only law enforcement authorities who don't have to adhere to the 4th Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure.

But opponents of the bill said protection of natural resources is a compelling state interest, and that checking licenses and limits is simply what conservation officers do. The Senate voted 25-15 to reject the bill.