Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on April 22, 2011, 06:41:14 PM
Here's the final bill
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5622-S2.PL.pdf (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5622-S2.PL.pdf)
Good news......bad news.
Good - If you buy a hunting or fishing license you get a vehicle access pass, good only for DFW sites.
Good - If you have a sno-park pass you do not need a discover pass.
Bad - Parks still get 84 percent of the monies of the first 71 million made. Anything over 71 million gets split evenly between DNR, DFW, parks.
Bad - If you buy a hunting/fishing license and use DNR lands or Parks you still have to buy a discover pass.
Other - If you operate your vehicle on "pass" lands/sites you must have it visibly displayed in your windshield, same with parking.
Don't have or pass or display it properly, pay up -- 99 bucks. It's a natural resource infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.
Day pass is $10
If you are curious as to how your Representatives voted
Senate
Voting Yea: Senators Becker, Brown, Carrell, Chase, Conway, Eide, Fain, Fraser, Hargrove, Harper, Hatfield, Haugen, Hewitt, Hill, Keiser, Kilmer, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Litzow, McAuliffe, Murray, Nelson, Prentice, Pridemore, Ranker, Regala, Rockefeller, Schoesler, Shin, Stevens, Swecker, Tom, and White
Voting Nay: Senators Baumgartner, Baxter, Benton, Delvin, Ericksen, Hobbs, Holmquist Newbry, Honeyford, Kastama, King, Morton, Pflug, Roach, and Sheldon
Absent: Senator Zarelli
Excused: Senator Parlette
House
Voting Yea: Representatives Appleton, Billig, Blake, Carlyle, Clibborn, Cody, Darneille, Dickerson, Dunshee, Eddy, Finn, Fitzgibbon, Frockt, Goodman, Green, Haigh, Hasegawa, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Hurst, Jinkins, Kagi, Kelley, Kenney, Kirby, Ladenburg, Liias, Lytton, Maxwell, McCoy, Miloscia, Moeller, Morris, Moscoso, Ormsby, Orwall, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Reykdal, Roberts, Rolfes, Ryu, Santos, Seaquist, Sells, Springer, Stanford, Sullivan, Takko, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Wylie, and Mr. Speaker
Voting Nay: Representatives Ahern, Alexander, Anderson, Angel, Armstrong, Asay, Bailey, Buys, Chandler, Condotta, Dahlquist, Dammeier, DeBolt, Fagan, Haler, Hargrove, Harris, Hinkle, Hope, Johnson, Klippert, Kretz, Kristiansen, McCune, Nealey, Orcutt, Overstreet, Parker, Pearson, Probst, Rivers, Rodne, Ross, Shea, Schmick, Short, Smith, Taylor, Walsh, Warnick, Wilcox, and Zeiger
Absent:
Excused: Representative Crouse
Post by: 1Shot2Kills on April 22, 2011, 07:38:21 PM
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on April 22, 2011, 08:46:17 PM
Post by: bobcat on April 22, 2011, 08:53:21 PM
Another question- is it only needed if you drive a vehicle onto state lands? If so, I have some places I hunt where I will just park on the county right of way and walk onto the state land.
Post by: Special T on April 22, 2011, 09:25:28 PM
Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on April 22, 2011, 09:40:29 PM
Anyone know- can it be transferred from one vehicle to another or do you have to purchase one for every vehicle you own? I wouldn't have a problem with it if I only had to pay $30, but if I have to pay $30 for each of the four vehicles that we own, then I will NOT be visiting state parks or DNR land anymore.
Another question- is it only needed if you drive a vehicle onto state lands? If so, I have some places I hunt where I will just park on the county right of way and walk onto the state land.
Sec 3 --The cost of the discover pass is thirty dollars per motor vehicle.
Freaking merger next,right? Bastiges!!!!!!!!!!!! I will have some comments for Stevens and will thank Bailey. Looks like being a snowmobiler pays off. I will license a sled every year rather than pay the other.
Sec 7 says your sno-park pass is only good at sno-parks and Nov thru Mar.
Post by: swanny on April 22, 2011, 09:40:57 PM
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on April 23, 2011, 08:30:47 AM
(3) Every four years the office of financial management must review
8 the cost of the day-use permit and, if necessary, recommend to the
9 legislature an adjustment to the cost of the day-use permit to account
10 for inflation.
$59 ticket even if you forgot to display a previously purchased pass
(5) The penalty for failure to comply with the requirements of this
28 section is ninety-nine dollars. This penalty is reduced to fifty-nine
29 dollars if an individual provides proof of purchase of the discover
30 pass to the court within fifteen days after the issuance of the notice
31 of violation.
Section 12....
26 (6) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as defined in RCW
27 46.04.320 and which are required to be registered under chapter 46.16A
28 RCW. "Motor vehicle" does not include those motor vehicles exempt from
29 registration under RCW 46.16A.080 and state and publicly owned motor
30 vehicles as provided in RCW 46.16A.170.
So here we are having to spend ANOTHER $60 for a truck and a quad to hunt much of the colockum area (glad I don't camp a motorhome,would be $90) and these *censored*s have the gall to throw in SECTION 12 ??????
Reminds one of registering a MV for the last couple years.
Post by: Special T on April 23, 2011, 08:32:59 AM
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on April 23, 2011, 08:41:04 AM
That is exactly how to get around this Bobcat...
Or drive up hunting on your tractor!
Post by: Sumpnneedskillin on April 23, 2011, 08:41:43 AM
The state shows their true colors by their own statement.. This is a $$$ grab for parks nothing else... Everything over 71 million raised will be split 3ways... They are not encouraging more use they are shuffling $$$. They have a dollar goal in line and i'd bet my paycheck they don't meet it. :twocents:
I'm not taking that bet!!
If they had been concerned about money for outdoor activities they would have split the money evenly. Instead of the Discover Pass it should be called the State Parks pass.
Post by: bigtex on April 24, 2011, 02:31:58 PM
Another question- is it only needed if you drive a vehicle onto state lands? If so, I have some places I hunt where I will just park on the county right of way and walk onto the state land.
This should answer your question Bobcat, the pass is required at any recreation site or lands:
(7) "Recreation site or lands" means a state park or fish and wildlife conservation sites including water access areas, boat ramps, wildlife areas, parking areas, roads, and trailheads, or department of natural resources developed or designated recreation areas, sites, trailheads, and parking areas.
So if you park in an area not owned by DFW, DNR or Parks then you are good to go. There are a lot of people who park outside of DFW boat launches because they don't have/forgot their vehicle use permit.
Post by: bobcat on April 24, 2011, 03:00:43 PM
Post by: bearpaw on April 24, 2011, 03:07:01 PM
Post by: bigtex on April 24, 2011, 03:18:55 PM
When does the requirement for the permit go into effect? Will it be needed for this hunting season?
The bill included an "emergency clause" which means the bill/permit requirement goes into effect July 1, 2011.
Post by: bigtex on April 24, 2011, 03:23:06 PM
Quote from: Sumpnneedskillin
Good - If you have a sno-park pass you do not need a discover pass.
Thats PARTIALLY true.
You will not need the discover pass if you have a sno-park pass and are parked in a sno-park. But you CANNOT use a sno-park pass for DNR and DFW lands or State Parks.
Basically you don't have to have a sno-park pass and discover pass to park at a sno-park. But the sno-park pass only "works" at sno-parks.
Post by: bigtex on April 24, 2011, 05:10:46 PM
Quote from: Sumpnneedskillin
Bad - Parks still get 84 percent of the monies of the first 71 million made. Anything over 71 million gets split evenly between DNR, DFW, parks.
Well thats also PARTIALLY true. It's not just the first 84% of 71 million of the that goes to Parks, then after that everyone is equal. It's per biennium! So from July 1, 2011- June 30, 2013 the first 84% of 71 million will go to Parks, anything after 71 million gets split evenly. THEN July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2015 the first 84% 71 million will go to Parks, anything after 71 million gets split evenly.
So it's not like as soon as 71 million is hit then all the years after that DNR, Parks and WDFW gets an even share. Essentially every 2 years it is restarted back at $0.
Post by: Elkaholic daWg on April 25, 2011, 04:11:52 AM
So it's not like as soon as 71 million is hit then all the years after that DNR, Parks and WDFW gets an even share. Essentially every 2 years it is restarted back at $0
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Only those who voted for those in the upper left would be stupid enough not to know that
It is still a legislative ripoff for State Parks
CCA's take on it and others...
The legislature adjourned Sine Die April 22nd. The Governor has called the legislature back into Special Session starting on Tuesday, April 26th. There remains a great deal of unfinished business. Including passing both a Operating Budget and a Capitol Budget. In addition, there are close to 70 bills they will need to pass in order to implement their budget assumptions.
After lengthy debate....The legislature passed SSB 5622 on Thursday, April 21 (Discover Pass). As previously reported, this bill as introduced would have required everyone wishing to access lands managed by DNR, Parks and WDFW to pay an additional $30.00 (Including Fishing and Hunting license holders). The bill was eventually amended in the Senate Natural Resources Committee to charge anglers and hunters $7.00 more. After working with several other stakeholder groups, we were able to amend the bill in Senate Ways and Means to exempt anglers and hunters from paying anything to access WDFW lands and certain DNR lands. Hunters and anglers were already paying for access to WDFW lands through their license fees. This bill passed both the House and Senate in a 24 hour period and is on it's way to the Governor. This is a nice victory for hunters and fisherman. It more or less maintains the current vehicle access pass while also charging non-consumptive users to access lands historically funded by hunting and fishing license holders. This will generate some additional revenue for WDFW.
SB 5669 (Consolidation) came back to life last week with a proposed striker amendment. The striker would have removed the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Commission over the WDFW budget as well as tribal,interstate, international and agency agreements. Most salmon and steelhead fisheries in the state are subject to at least one of these agreements. We made it clear to key members of the Senate that we would oppose this latest attack on the Commission. We took immediate action by helping to craft a letter of opposition from several organizations that was sent to the entire Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday. Working with Senator Zarelli and his staff, we also help draft amendments to remove those specific sections of the bill if it moved forward. Congressman Norm Dicks also weighed in with his concerns. As a result, it appears we are going to avoid any further attacks on the Commission and those sections will be removed from the proposed substitute bill. We will continue to monitor it closely.
Post by: KopperBuck on April 26, 2011, 01:52:36 PM
Post by: sakoshooter on April 26, 2011, 04:07:50 PM
Anyone know- can it be transferred from one vehicle to another or do you have to purchase one for every vehicle you own? I wouldn't have a problem with it if I only had to pay $30, but if I have to pay $30 for each of the four vehicles that we own, then I will NOT be visiting state parks or DNR land anymore.
Another question- is it only needed if you drive a vehicle onto state lands? If so, I have some places I hunt where I will just park on the county right of way and walk onto the state land.
I believe I just read that it is not transferable. You have to put your license # on it.
Post by: bigtex on April 26, 2011, 04:18:17 PM
Just to provide a little more info, basically all of the coastline from the Columbia River to the Quinault Rez is owned by Wa St Parks, however it is not classified as a state park but rather the "seashore conservation area". And the Discovery Pass is only required for state parks (and DNR/DFW lands) but not required on the "seashore conservation area". It just seems like if the state/agencies really wanted the $ they would require it at the place that gets most visitiation :dunno: To me it would be like if the National Park Service decided to increase fees at all national parks except Yellowston, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon.
Post by: bobcat on April 26, 2011, 06:56:36 PM
Post by: bigtex on April 26, 2011, 07:05:38 PM
How is this going to work for areas that are mostly private timberlands, such as Weyerhaeuser, where you have the occasional section of DNR land mixed in? Surely they're not going to enforce the requirement for a Discover pass just for those people who are driving through the DNR land to visit the Weyerhaeuser land on the other side? Or even if it's something like 5 or 6 miles to drive through a block of DNR land to get to the Weyerhaeuser (or other private company) land on the other side? If I don't intend to stop my vehicle and hunt on the state land I should not be required to have the Discover pass, correct?
In those circumstances you won't need it. The bill clearly defined the areas you will need it on DNR land: department of natural resources developed or designated recreation areas, sites, trailheads, and parking areas. So if it is not one of those areas then you won't need it.
However with WDFW lands it is more “strict”: fish and wildlife conservation sites including water access areas, boat ramps, wildlife areas, parking areas, roads, and trailheads. There is plenty of DNR land within a WDFW established “wildlife areas” where WDFW basically manages the land for DNR, so in those circumstances you will need the pass.
Post by: Special T on April 26, 2011, 07:08:01 PM
Post by: bigtex on April 26, 2011, 07:19:11 PM
Post by: bobcat on April 26, 2011, 07:25:14 PM
How is this going to work for areas that are mostly private timberlands, such as Weyerhaeuser, where you have the occasional section of DNR land mixed in? Surely they're not going to enforce the requirement for a Discover pass just for those people who are driving through the DNR land to visit the Weyerhaeuser land on the other side? Or even if it's something like 5 or 6 miles to drive through a block of DNR land to get to the Weyerhaeuser (or other private company) land on the other side? If I don't intend to stop my vehicle and hunt on the state land I should not be required to have the Discover pass, correct?
In those circumstances you won't need it. The bill clearly defined the areas you will need it on DNR land: department of natural resources developed or designated recreation areas, sites, trailheads, and parking areas. So if it is not one of those areas then you won't need it.
However with WDFW lands it is more “strict”: fish and wildlife conservation sites including water access areas, boat ramps, wildlife areas, parking areas, roads, and trailheads. There is plenty of DNR land within a WDFW established “wildlife areas” where WDFW basically manages the land for DNR, so in those circumstances you will need the pass.
Well that's totally new to me. If that's the case, then I have to say, I have no objections to this Discover pass. If what you say is true, then it sounds to me like I can continue to hunt most of the state lands I have always hunted, and will not need to purchase the pass. As far as the WDFW lands, none of us will need to buy it for that either, correct? (I believe a hunting license exempts us from needing the Discover pass for WDFW lands)
Post by: bigtex on April 26, 2011, 07:33:45 PM
How is this going to work for areas that are mostly private timberlands, such as Weyerhaeuser, where you have the occasional section of DNR land mixed in? Surely they're not going to enforce the requirement for a Discover pass just for those people who are driving through the DNR land to visit the Weyerhaeuser land on the other side? Or even if it's something like 5 or 6 miles to drive through a block of DNR land to get to the Weyerhaeuser (or other private company) land on the other side? If I don't intend to stop my vehicle and hunt on the state land I should not be required to have the Discover pass, correct?
In those circumstances you won't need it. The bill clearly defined the areas you will need it on DNR land: department of natural resources developed or designated recreation areas, sites, trailheads, and parking areas. So if it is not one of those areas then you won't need it.
However with WDFW lands it is more “strict”: fish and wildlife conservation sites including water access areas, boat ramps, wildlife areas, parking areas, roads, and trailheads. There is plenty of DNR land within a WDFW established “wildlife areas” where WDFW basically manages the land for DNR, so in those circumstances you will need the pass.
Well that's totally new to me. If that's the case, then I have to say, I have no objections to this Discover pass. If what you say is true, then it sounds to me like I can continue to hunt most of the state lands I have always hunted, and will not need to purchase the pass. As far as the WDFW lands, none of us will need to buy it for that either, correct? (I believe a hunting license exempts us from needing the Discover pass for WDFW lands)
That’s correct there will still be a complimentary WDFW pass for hunting and fishing licenses that can only be used for WDFW lands. So if you never go to any state parks, or stay off DNR developed/designated areas then you won’t need the pass. However if you plan on being in a “state forest” then be prepared to get the discovery pass because they are owned by DNR and are “recreation areas”.
Post by: bobcat on April 26, 2011, 07:37:25 PM
Post by: bigtex on April 26, 2011, 07:37:37 PM
You can view the areas by region or county.
Post by: bigtex on April 26, 2011, 07:39:19 PM
OK, so you're saying anywhere within Capitol State Forest, the pass will be required? Even if a person is not using established trails, parking areas, campgrounds, etc? If so, I guess I won't be hunting there anymore. That's ok. I have lots of other areas to hunt. As long as I can hunt all other state lands without the pass I'm happy.
Thats correct. Because state forests are "department of natural resources developed or designated recreation areas"
Post by: dscubame on April 26, 2011, 07:39:50 PM
OK, so you're saying anywhere within Capitol State Forest, the pass will be required? Even if a person is not using established trails, parking areas, campgrounds, etc? If so, I guess I won't be hunting there anymore. That's ok. I have lots of other areas to hunt. As long as I can hunt all other state lands without the pass I'm happy.
I have to agree with Bobcat....$10 a day for a pass is ridiculous!!
Post by: Special T on April 26, 2011, 08:00:37 PM
Post by: logger on April 27, 2011, 08:12:57 AM
Post by: logger on April 27, 2011, 06:03:31 PM
Post by: bobcat on April 27, 2011, 06:10:42 PM
Post by: yelp on April 27, 2011, 06:10:55 PM
I will buy the $30.00 permit. But I believe that is per vehicle? I want to know if there will be a charge for each registered vehicle..meaning another permit needed for a boat/trailer and/or camper? And will boatlaunch fees be extra. :dunno:
Post by: bigtex on April 27, 2011, 06:26:58 PM
I'm not sure how people are supposed to know where it is and isn't required though. My opinion is that it should only be required for certain parking lots, campgrounds, and other developed areas that the DNR has specifically for recreational activities. I don't know how much enforcement of this there will be on DNR lands, but I'm not willing to risk a $100 ticket. There are plenty of places to hunt where it won't be required.
The bill/law requires a sign to be in place notifying visitors that the pass is required for access. Just like the signs that are currently in place for the WDFW access sites.
Post by: bigtex on April 27, 2011, 06:33:18 PM
Is this even enforceable? there is all kinds of things going on out there and hell they can't catch the bad guys, so why would this be any different? The dnr guys i work with have bigger fish to fry than something like this.
Definitely enforceable. The vehicle use permit/access permit is one of the most commonly written tickets for WDFW Officers statewide.
As far as DNR goes. Since DNR is a limited authority law enforcement agency they can give limited authority DNR commissions (only enforce DNR laws) to their non-law enforcement officers, essentially your basic "grunt" DNR worker. This bill allows those non-law enforcement DNR workers to cite people for this violation. There are less then 10 DNR Law Enforcement Officers statewide, so they are not going to be the only DNR personnel enforcing this law. Last I heard there were about 70 DNR employees who had this DNR-only citation authority.
However since WDFW is a full-authority law enforcement agency the only WDFW personnel enforcing the law will be WDFW Officers.