[Paddlewise] State Registration for Each Kayak

Does anyone besides Texas have this problem?  If so how did you deal with it?

-----Original Message-----
From:	Terry Gulliver [SMTP:tgulliver_at_appliedhydrology.com]
Sent:	Monday, May 22, 2000 3:13 PM
To:	Houston Canoe Club; canoetx_at_world.std.com
Subject:	Re: [HCC] URGENT (was: Boston Tea party)

Houston Canoe Club - http://houstoncanoeclub.org

Neil
Thanks for the lege addresses. I copied Tom Goynes with my letter, and he
suggested I share it, so here it is:

Rep Fred Bosse (et al)
855 Uvalde Rd #A
Houston TX 77015

Sir
I object to the Sunset proposal to license canoes and kayaks to raise funds for
TPWD.

I own four boats that would be subject to these fees, a tandem canoe, a racing
canoe, a fishing kayak and a touring sea kayak. The proposal would cost me over
$120 for craft that use almost no TPWD facilities, and are man powered and
non-polluting. When I do use a TPWD facility such as a ramp, there are users'
fees.

The user-should-pay argument is thus completely invalid in my case, and in the
case of every paddler I know. There could be justification for higher fees for
motorized craft that use ramps and need traffic control for wake erosion etc;
but there is none for man-powered boats.

Paddlers are in fact strong conservators in general rather than consumers. We
are bird-watchers, trash collectors, and reporters of pollution, erosion or
other damage in waters often not accessible to other craft. You should pay me a
fee for my periodic clean-ups after the lard-assed shore-clutterers of my
various launch sites, not be taxing me for parks.

I would also caution that the proposal is seen by the paddling community as a
betrayal of past consensus, and that feelings run high enough for a significant
reaction to licensing. I share those feelings.

Yours truly,
Terry Gulliver


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