Discover Pass FAQ:
http://www.discoverpass.wa.gov/faq/#whereFrequently Asked QuestionsUpdated: Week of Aug. 1, 2011
•What is the Discover Pass?
•Buying the Discover Pass
•Using the Discover Pass?
•Who needs the Discover Pass?
•Where will I need the Discover Pass?
•Revenue information
•Volunteers
•Exemptions
•More information
What is the Discover Pass?Q. What is the Discover Pass?
A. The Discover Pass is a vehicle-access pass that allows you to enjoy nearly 7 million acres of Washington state-managed recreation lands—including campgrounds, parks, wildlife areas, trails, natural areas, wilderness areas and water-access points. The Discover Pass was created by the 2011 Legislature as a solution to keep state recreation lands open. Revenue from the Discover Pass is intended to replace general fund tax money no longer available to cover the costs to operate state-managed recreation lands.
Buying the Discover PassQ. Where can I purchase the Discover Pass?
A. You have several options for purchasing a pass:
1.In person at any of nearly 600 sporting goods or other retail stores that sell hunting and fishing licenses.
2.In person at State Parks headquarters and region offices and in state parks as staff is available.
3.Online through WDFW's online recreational licensing system.
4.By phone at (866) 320-9933.
5.When you renew your vehicle license. Beginning this fall, you will be able to purchase a pass when renewing a vehicle license through the state Department of Licensing.
Q. How much does the Discover Pass cost?
A. An annual Discover Pass purchased from a recreational license dealer, by phone or online costs $35, which includes the $30 base fee, a 10 percent transaction fee and a $2 dealer fee. A one-day Discover Pass costs $11.50, which includes the $10 base fee, a 10 percent transaction fee and a 50-cent dealer fee. The annual pass is good for one year from issue date.
Q. Why are transaction and dealer fees charged to purchase a Discover Pass?
A. The Discover Pass is sold through 600 retail stores, online and by phone, using the automated licensing system that also sells Washington sport fishing and hunting licenses. The 10 percent transaction fee on each purchase pays for computer system development and maintenance, dealer sales terminals and supplies, customer service, dealer training and support, financial accounting and reporting of sales transactions. The $2 dealer fee on each transaction is paid to retail outlets that sell the Discover Pass or to offset the costs associated with Internet and telephone sales, including processing of credit card sales, postage and staff time to print and mail the pass documents to those who have purchased the pass online or by phone.
The Discover Pass also is available for purchase during regular business hours at State Parks headquarters and region offices and at parks as staff are available. Beginning with October vehicle license renewals, vehicle owners will be able to purchase the Discover Pass when renewing license tabs through the Department of Licensing. Passes purchased through state parks do not include transaction and dealer fees. Passes purchased by credit or debit card through DOL subagents may have bank charges added.
Q. When did the Discover Pass go into effect?
A. July 1, 2011.
Q. What if I visit a Washington state recreation land and don’t have the Discover Pass?
A. You may go to the nearest retail business that sells hunting and fishing licenses to purchase the pass. For vendor locations, visit online or call toll-free at (866) 320-9933.
Q. Will people from out of state need to purchase a pass?
A. Yes
Q. How long is my Discover Pass valid?
A. The annual pass is good for 365 days from the date of issue.
Using the Discover PassQ. Where should I display the Discover Pass?
A. The Discover Pass must be visibly displayed in the front windshield of motor vehicles licensed for street use. Motorcycle riders will need to carry the pass with them.
Q. Can I transfer one Discover Pass among my vehicles?
A. No. The Discover Pass legislation specifically states the pass applies to one vehicle.
Q. What is the penalty for not having a Discover Pass on my vehicle?
A. The penalty is $99. This penalty is reduced to $59 if an individual provides proof of purchase of the Discover Pass to the court within 15 days after the notice of violation.
Who needs the Discover Pass?Q. Who needs to purchase the Discover Pass?
A. The Discover Pass is required for access with street-legal motor vehicles. Some exemptions apply. A list of exemptions from Discover Pass requirements is posted on the Exemptions page on the Discover Pass website.
Where will I need the Discover Pass?Q. Where will I need a Discover Pass?
A. The pass is required on state recreation lands and water-access sites managed by Washington State Parks (State Parks), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). These lands include state parks, water-access points, heritage sites, wildlife and natural areas, DNR and WDFW campgrounds, trails and trailheads. The Discover Pass will be needed to access DNR’s developed or designated recreation areas, sites, trailheads and parking areas. (To learn where the Discover Pass is required on DNR-managed lands, visit:
www.dnr.wa.gov/recreation.)
Q. If I am driving through state recreation lands, will I need to buy a pass?
A. Yes. Unless you are exempt from pass requirements, the pass is required anytime your vehicle is on state recreation lands managed by WDFW, DNR or State Parks. The pass is not required on roads managed by other jurisdictions, such as state highways or county roads that may pass through recreation lands.
Q. If I am gathering mushrooms, berries or firewood for my personal use or doing other dispersed recreation activities such as geocaching, driving forest roads, bird watching, etc., do I still need to purchase an access pass?
A. Yes. All street-licensed vehicles will need a Discover Pass to access state recreation lands managed by the agencies.
Q. Do I need a Discover Pass if I access state recreation lands by foot, horse, bicycle, boat, skateboard, etc.?
A. No. The Discover Pass is a motor vehicle permit and is only required for street-legal motor vehicles to access state-managed recreation lands. It is not required for access using other forms of transportation, such as bicycles, boats, horses or on foot. However, if motor vehicles are used to transport or tow boats, bicycles, horses, etc., the motor vehicle must display the pass. Boaters will still need to pay any moorage and boat pumping fees.
Q. Will I need a Discover Pass to drive on ocean beaches for clam digging or other recreation?
A. You will not need a Discover Pass to access the beach or to drive or park on the beach. However, you will need a Discover Pass to park in any developed State Parks parking areas upland from the beach.
Q. If I pay to have an extra overnight vehicle while camping in a state park, will I also need the Discover Pass?
A. No. An easy way to think about this is that in State Parks the Discover Pass is for day visits. State Parks daytime hours end at dusk. Registered campers and others with paid overnight stays in State Parks do not need to have the Discover Pass. They simply display their camping registration on their dashboard.
The extra overnight vehicle fee in State Parks is associated only with camping stays. If you are camping, your registration includes a single motor vehicle for tent campers, or in the case of RV camping, the RV and a towed vehicle. Owners of any extra vehicles associated with the overnight stay in a state park campsite pay a $10 extra overnight vehicle fee. If you bring your RV in and drive a second vehicle in for your camping stay, then you pay the extra overnight vehicle fee. This is a long-standing practice and a way to mitigate the impact that additional vehicles have on natural resources in the campgrounds.
Q. If I have the Discover Pass, will I have to pay the extra overnight vehicle fee?
A. Yes. The extra overnight vehicle fee applies only to extra vehicles parked overnight in campgrounds. The Discover Pass is needed by daytime visitors.
Q. If I have an annual State Parks watercraft launch permit (Natural Investment Permit), will I need to have the Discover Pass?
A. If you have an annual Natural Investment Permit, you do not need the Discover Pass to access state parks, however, you will still need the Discover Pass to access lands managed by DNR and WDFW.
Q. If I rent a day-use facility in a state park for a family event such as a wedding or family reunion, will I need to have a Discover Pass to attend?
A. If the event reservation for the rental day-use facility was made prior to June 1, 2011, you and your guests will be exempt from needing the Discover Pass to attend. Participants in events with rental arrangements made June 1, 2011 or after will be required to have the Discover Pass.
Q. Can I use my federal recreation pass to access Washington state recreation lands?
A. No. The federal pass allows access to National Parks, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, and lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The passes cannot be used for recreation access to state-managed recreation lands.
Revenue InformationQ. Which agencies receive the money from the Discover Pass fee?
A. The revenue will be shared among the three agencies as follows:
•84 percent to State Parks
•8 percent Fish and Wildlife
•8 percent Department of Natural Resources
Revenue from the Discover Pass is needed to make up the loss of general fund money that had historically been available for recreation on state lands. The state budget for the next two years (2011-2013 biennium) has almost no general fund dollars (tax revenue) for recreation on state lands. Revenues from the pass go to each agency in the proportion needed for general fund replacement.
Q. Will all of the revenue from the Discover Pass be used for recreation on state lands?
A. Yes. Revenue will be used for the purpose of operating and maintaining recreation lands and facilities. Legislation requires that all revenue received from the sales of the Discover Pass go directly into the Recreation Access Pass Account.
Q. How can I be assured that the funds will be used to support recreation?
A. The purpose of the legislation is to provide operating funds in place of the general fund tax dollars no longer available for recreation. The operating philosophy of the legislation is that it is fair to ask those who use state recreation lands to pay for them directly. All of the revenue from the Discover Pass goes toward providing recreation access on state recreation lands.
Q. Why do we need another fee when we are already paying for recreation access through taxes to the state?
A. The state budget deficit continues to grow, in large part, because of the recession and resulting decreasing revenue from taxes. The 2011-2013 biennial state budget eliminates nearly all state general fund support to operate and maintain state lands for recreation. Without funding from the Discover Pass, state natural resource agencies would be forced to make sharp reductions in services, including swinging gates shut on parks and closing entire recreation areas, as many other states have done with their recreation lands.
VolunteersQ. Can volunteers obtain a complimentary Discover Pass?
A. Yes. Volunteers who work 24 hours on agency-approved projects can earn a complimentary annual pass. Each agency must provide vouchers to volunteers, recording the number of hours they worked on each project. Volunteers can redeem the voucher for the annual Discover Pass. The three agencies are currently developing the details of the complimentary Discover Pass, such as where and how volunteers get vouchers, what constitutes an agency-approved project and where people can go to redeem their vouchers.
Q. Who is eligible to earn a complimentary Discover Pass?
A. Participants must be approved, registered volunteers who have completed any and all required training.
Q. What training is required?
A. The agency conducting the volunteer event will determine what kind of training, if any, is required.
Q. How do I get a complimentary Discover Pass?
A. Each eligible volunteer may receive one complimentary Discover Pass by participating in 24 hours of work on eligible volunteer projects in a 12-month period and providing documentation of participation on Volunteer Vouchers provided by the agencies.
Q. How many complimentary Discover Passes can I earn?
A. One complimentary Discover Pass will be issued to an eligible volunteer in any 12-month period.
Q. How long can I take to accrue 24 eligible volunteer hours to earn a complimentary Discover Pass?
A. To be eligible for a complimentary Discover Pass, eligible volunteer hours need to be accrued during a continuous 12-month period. Eligible volunteer hours do not transfer from one 12-month period to another.
Q. What volunteer projects are considered eligible for the Discover Pass?
A. Together, the three agencies have developed general criteria for volunteer and project eligibility. In addition, each agency is developing specific criteria for its volunteer program.
Q. Do I need to purchase a Discover Pass, or a WDFW Access Pass (where applicable) to access state recreation lands while participating in eligible volunteer projects?
A. No. Volunteers will be provided with a temporary pass on the day of a scheduled volunteer event, which will allow them access for that day.
Q. What are Volunteer Vouchers and how do I get them?
A. Whenever you participate in a Discover Pass-eligible volunteer project or event, you may request a Volunteer Voucher from agency staff. The voucher documents participation and the number of hours worked.
Q. Who tracks and maintain my Volunteer Vouchers until I am ready to redeem them for a pass?
A. As a volunteer, you are responsible for filling out and maintaining your Volunteer Voucher for each eligible project in which you participate. Agency staff will sign your completed Vouchers. Once you’ve accumulated 24 hours, you may redeem the vouchers for a complimentary pass.
Q. How do I redeem Volunteer Vouchers for a complimentary pass?
A. To receive your complimentary Discover Pass, follow the instructions indicated on the vouchers. Your Discover Pass will be mailed to you at the address you provide on your vouchers.
Q. When can I begin accruing hours for a Discover Pass?
A. You can begin accruing hours for a complimentary Discover Pass on or after July 1, 2011.
Q. If I have already earned a complimentary Discover Pass, can I "bank" my additional volunteer hours and save them toward my next complimentary Discover Pass?
A. No. For those who already have a complimentary Discover Pass, eligible hours can be accrued towards a new pass beginning the day after the expiration of your current pass.
Q. Can I accrue volunteer hours from different agencies?
A. Yes. You may earn a complimentary Discover Pass by accruing eligible volunteer hours from one or all of the agencies—Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and Washington State Department of Natural Resources.
Q. Can volunteers who receive anything in exchange for services, such as campground hosting (free campsite/utilities) or participating in WDFW’s Master Hunter Program (special hunting access), get a complimentary Discover Pass?
A. No. The hours of service in volunteer positions that already receive something in exchange for volunteer time are not counted toward a complimentary Discover Pass.
Q. Do volunteer hours donated to fulfill requirements for purposes outside of State Parks, DNR, or WDFW count towards a complimentary Discover Pass?
A. No. Volunteer hours donated to fulfill requirements for outside purposes such as school credits, graduation, or court-ordered community service are not eligible.
Q. Where can I get information about eligible volunteer projects that count toward a complimentary Discover Pass?
A. More information is available at:
•Washington State Parks information line — (360) 902-8844.
•Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Volunteer Program Coordinator — (360) 902-2802.
•Washington State Department of Natural Resources —
www.dnr.wa.gov/volunteer. (Follow the link to the volunteer calendar.)
Exemptions to the Discover Pass requirementQ. Are there exemptions to the Discover Pass requirement?
A. Yes. You may find a list of exemptions on the Discover Pass website.
More informationQ. Where can I get more information about the Discover Pass?
A. You may send an e-mail to licensing@dfw.wa.gov or call toll-free (866) 320-9933. Additional information will be added to this website as it becomes available.
