[Vision2020] Kayak Registration
Dan Carscallen
predator75@moscow.com
Thu, 22 Jan 2004 07:52:21 -0800
So, Roger, if I read you right, any sort of registration is done to
discourage an activity. I don't agree. I think it makes one take
responsibility to make sure he keeps his form of recreation legal.
Whenever I see someone who does not have a trail sticker, I strongly
encourage them to get one. My family rides bicycles on occasion, and I
would be all for paying a $5 annual fee that would help pay for trail
maintenance on, say, the Latah Trail or Chipman Trail.
As far as the boating, I'm not a fan of those holes in the water that
people throw money into, so I can't really speak for them one way or the
other, but I'm pretty sure *any* boat that is operated in Kootenai
county has to buy a "county" registration, out of state or not. Someone
more informed than me can probably speak better to that.
Again, I don't see a problem with a $5 annual fee for non-motorized
watercraft. It sure would be nice, though, to know that the money went
somewhere beneficial to the payers of the fee. Heck, you pay more than
that for spending the night in a tent at Huckleberry Campground on the
St. Joe River!
DC
-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Dick Schmidt
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 7:22 PM
To: roger hayes; vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Kayak Registration
Roger,
I will agree with you that non motorized craft, canoes, kayaks, etc
should not be required to pay a user registration fee. I have a small
sail boat and pay $38 a year for that and only use the little motor
occasionally but don't mind that. The big problem is that the Republican
legislators in Boise won't let marine enforcement officers ticket
unregistered boats in marinas. In the marina we use there are many
unregistered boats in the water tied up to the dock. We also have a
canoe but haven't used it yet here in Idaho.
Another important point is that this is just another reason to
discourage tourists from coming to Idaho because many of them travel
with a canoe or kayaks.
Dick Schmidt
----- Original Message -----
From: "roger hayes" <rhayes@turbonet.com>
To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 5:50 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Kayak Registration
> Dan:
>
> Thank you for responding. However, I must disagree with you. If I
> have to pay $13 to ply the waters of Idaho (and a few bucks is not the
> issue here), why should a motor boat pay the same fee? Non-motorized
> boats don't need loading ramps, all the docks, and the Sheriff's
> patrol to pass out speeding and reckless boating tickets. But also,
> why do out of state boats use our waters for free? In my years of
> boating, I have yet to see a need for Search and Rescue to come to the
> aid of a kayaker or canoeist. Maybe it's happened, but I have no
> knowledge of it. Finally, a tax on non-motorized vehicles is meant to
> regulate and discourage. I can think of no reason to discourage any
> form of non-motorized transport, given the state of fuel usage,
> pollution, and congestion. It is just common sense. Smaller, less
> consumptive activities should be encouraged.
>
> PS: You must note that skiers do pay for trail maintenance. Kayakers
> do pay for the right to use the rivers. How??? Ask me.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Roger Hayes
> Moscow
>
> > I don't understand the problem. Why should some users of our
> > natural resources be required to pay a fee (off road motorized
> > vehicle registration, motor boats, snowmobiles, etc.) while others
> > do not (mountain bikes, kayaks, canoes, etc.)? You may think *you*
> > have little impact, but what about those who may not be quite as
> > adept at maneuvering a kayak, raft, or canoe who require assistance
> > from a Sheriff's dept. or search and rescue? Who pays for that?
> > Those who buy
> > registrations, that's who.
> > =20
> > I'm all for this registration, and I'm also for registration of
> > bicycles
> > and cross country skis to help alleviate the costs incurred in
making
> > trails for them as well.
> > =20
> > Dan Carscallen
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com
> > [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com]
> > On Behalf Of roger hayes
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 6:45 PM
> > To: vision2020@moscow.com
> > Subject: [Vision2020] Fwd: Fw: Kayak registration
> >
> >
> > Vision 2020 readers:
> >
> > I forward the following information because I believe it to be
> > crucial to non-motorized recreational water users here in Idaho.
> > Further, I oppose the law as it will add layers of bur to the state
> > and will accomplish little. Our state legislature is attempting to
> > require registration and fee payment for non-motorized water craft.
> > It is an attempt to regulate use and collect a bit of revenue.
> > However, in the years I have been plying the lakes and rivers of
> > Idaho, believe my paddle boat has little impact on the water,
> > facilities, and services offered. Additionally, I see a great number
> > of boats on Coeur d'Alene, Pend Oreille, and Priest lakes with out
> > of state registrations. Who pays for that use? I feel canoes, and
> > kayak enthusiasts should be encouraged rather than taxed/penalized.
> > I encourage everyone to contact our representatives and senators and
> > provide them with a "nay' to this nonsense.
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Roger Hayes
> > Moscow
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello, everyone. I thought I sent my own story on this
> > to you, but apparently it didn't reach you.
> >
> > I work as a legislative reporter here in the Capitol.
> > I can't lobby on this bill, but I can tell you when it comes up
> > before committees so anyone who would like to can testify.
> >
> > Here's what I wrote and sent on the AP wires on Jan.
> > 7:
> >
> >
> > ^Small boat owners targeted for new fee<
> >
> > =B6 COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) _ Every canoe, kayak and
> > raft over 7 feet long would have to be registered with
> > the state under a bill being proposed by the Kootenai County
> > Sheriff's Department. =B6 The $13 registration fee would apply to
> > any non-motorized vessel, including out-of-state paddlers.
> > =B6 "They need to pay their own way," Kootenai County
> > Sheriff Rocky Watson said about non-motorized boaters.
> > "They are creating a need for services."
> > =B6 Watson said a most search-and-rescue efforts are
> > for whitewater rafters and kayakers who get in
> > trouble.
> > =B6 The bill is not sitting well with Idaho's river
> > outfitters and retailers.
> > =B6 Fran Tonsmeire, co-owner of Wilderness River
> > Outfitter in Challis, said her family-owned business
> > already pays enough user fees.
> > =B6 "We wouldn't like it. Its just another red tape
> > kind of thing, and we don't need any more regulations
> > or paperwork," she said.
> > =B6 Stan Kolby, co-owner of Idaho River Sports canoe
> > and kayak shop in Boise, said the proposed law is
> > misinformed about the sport.
> > =B6 Many new kayak boats are built under the 7-foot
> > length limit now, and shorter boats are often used in
> > the roughest water.
> > =B6 Also, dedicated paddlers often have multiple boats
> > for different water conditions. Paying fees for each
> > boat would have the effect of punishing people who are
> > taking measures to avoid search and rescue operations
> > by using the proper equipment.
> > =B6 And, Kolby says, his business would be forced to
> > pay more than $1,300 in fees just for the livery boats
> > he rents to customers.
> > =B6 "I understand search and rescue has to be funded.
> > Sometimes thing happen beyond our control. But there
> > must be other options or alternatives," he said.
> > =B6 Idaho currently requires motorboat and sailboat
> > owners to buy an annual registration, which costs $13
> > for boats up to 12 feet. An additional $2 per foot is
> > charged for longer boats.
> > =B6 The Idaho Parks and Recreation Department
> > estimates that there are more than 100,000
> > non-motorized boaters in Idaho.
> > =B6 Corby Christensen, the state's boating law
> > administrator, thinks it's time for paddlers to pay bureaucracy
> > their share.
> > =B6 "It would help enhance the sport and help correct
> > a lot of overcrowding problems we have," he said. Yet
> > Christensen said his department isn't taking sides on
> > the draft, just providing information.
> > =B6 Kootenai County Waterways Director Kurtis Robinson
> > sees the $13 charge more as a user fee than a
> > registration fee.
> > =B6 "I have two kayaks myself and I don't think it
> > would bother me," he said. "You have to pay if you are
> > going to play."
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> _____________________________________________________
> List services made available by First Step Internet,
> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
> http://www.fsr.net
> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com
> ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ
>
_____________________________________________________
List services made available by First Step Internet,
serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
http://www.fsr.net
mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com
ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ