Re: [Paddlewise] Registration of watercraft

Here in Illinois one must prove that the sales tax was paid before 


registration is allowed.  Since registration of a kayak costs less than the 


cost of processing the application, the whole thing is a tax issue.  For 


boats purchased out of state, the difference between sales tax paid and the 


Illinois rate must be paid, unless more was paid out of state.





        The same is true in Pennsylvania.  It's $10 for two years.  And they
want their piece of the taxes, too.  This year (and it's a current topic of
discussion on the PA paddling listservs) you do not necessarily have to have
human-powered boats registered to use F&B accesses.  --But you have to have a
launching permit, which costs you $10 per year per boat.  What do you get for
that extra $5?  You don't have to deface your boat with those big serial
numbers.... 





But for a few bucks, it isn't so bad.  We paddlers have been able to get the 



state to pay for access points [which for the disabled is a godsend and it 


isn't so bad for less adventurous paddlers, either] by pointing out that we 


are paying our fees.





        Access points and a few other things are what those fees are supposed
to be used for in PA, too.  But somehow they find reasons why they can't put
in access points where they're needed.  And they still have a strong
preference for fishermen.  The Lackawaxen, for example, is now closed to
paddlers even though historically it was used by them.  Fishermen still OK.
They say it's a local issue therefore not their problem even if it is a F&B
river...





Joe P.








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