Re: [Paddlewise] Kayak Registration

On the other hand Illinois is one of the worst states when it comes to 
paddling rights on streams.  On most of the smaller streams there is no 
right of passage.  The landowner is completely within his right to fence off 
the stream and have paddlers arrested for trespassing.  Lakes formed by 
otherwise passable, dammed rivers can be subject to local permits costing 
upwards of $75.

I know in other states landowners have blocked passage, but in Illinois they 
have legal standing. DNR has done very little if anything to improve the 
situation.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James" <jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm>

> I've told this every time the issue comes up, but I'll repeat it:
>
> In Illinois we screamed against having to register our canoes and
> kayaks.  It costs all of $13.00 the first time for a title and three
> year registration and then $6.00 to renew for three years.
>
> "It's not the money" we said.   "It's the principle - we get nothing
> now, we really need nothing.  We can launch just about anywhere."
>
> But the bill passed and now we register.  And now the Department of
> Natural Resources listens when we talk and builds us canoe launches when
> we make a good case.  I have nine kayaks (yeah, I know, it's a disease)
> so I pay more than most. But we paddlers now have a bought-and-paid-for
> place at the table when issues that affect us come up.  And, in my
> opinion, we are heard.
>
> And for those of you have concerns about appearance on racing boats or
> not being able to put stickers on folder and skin boats, there is a
> simple solution.  My skin boat and my two folders all have their
> stickers encased in plastic and are carried whenever I use them.  I
> asked the nice folks at the DNR and they said that would be fine with
> them as long as I have the registration card showing that the sticker
> goes with that particular boat.  So I have the card on the back of the
> sticker.
>
> I haven't raced slalom in a while, but when I did I raced
> internationally and NEVER had any scrutineer at the race check-in say
> anything about the registration stickers on the bow of my boat.  That's
> either a new thing or a misunderstanding on someone's part.
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