Erik Sprenne wrote: > Dave Kruger wrote: > > > There is a proposal before the Oregon Legislature to assess a > > $15/year [biennial] fee on > > all watercraft under 18 feet, to include canoes and kayaks. <snip> > The reason for registration is to get more federal matching > dollars, which are distributed based on the number of registered > boats in the state. > Can't help you on existing language (except for Alaska link > below), but suggest that it might be worthwhile to push for > langauge that mandates the return of funds to the paddling > community, [snip] Thanks to all for the ideas and comments. What a great group! Turns out the registration bill is locked up in committee, and the chair says he will keep it there. Not a threat this biennium, I guess. Most folks I have talked to do not object to a small annual fee, but do not want the hassle of registration, bow numbers, etc. States which insist on documentation of purchase or surrender of sales tax if you don't have the documentation are an object lesson, I think. Big PITA! Fortunately, Oregon has no sales tax, and is not likely to get one. I suspect this issue will come back the next legislative session. I was surprised to discover that we unregistered paddlefolk may not be the main irritation. Apparently, on some rivers during good steelhead runs, boat ramps get overrun with oar-driven drift boats, excluding registered power boats. The power boaters complained to the Marine Board, which asked for a registration proviso for nonmotorized craft. The language of the proposed bill was so broad it would have swept up inflatables all the way down to surf mats and the like, and probably included sailboards and the goofy things kite sailors use! The other apparent driving force was an attempt to harvest some revenue to support SAR operations, which in some counties in Oregon can be extensive for wayward paddlecraft (mostly WW?). I suspect that's hyperbole, though. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Apr 19 2001 - 03:07:23 PDT
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