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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BlueRibbon Coalition" data-source="post: 125" data-attributes="member: 44">Date: 02/08/2011BLUERIBBON COALITION PARTNER ACTION ALERT!WASHINGTON - State Legislature Introduces Two User Fee BillsDear BRC members, supporters and action alert subscribers,Tod Petersen, Political Action Committee Chairman for the Washington Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance (<a href="http://www.wohva.org/">WOHVA</a>),  just emailed about two user fee bills just introduced in the state legislature.Tod is asking us to alert all BRC members in Washington State and ask that you read their alert, and if you don't like this legislation and would like ORVs to be exempt from these new fees, then please let both of your State House of Representatives members and your State Senator know how you feel ASAP.I've pasted their alert below, so please take a minute to read it over and take action. Then, pass this important alert on to your friends and family, and please ask them take action as well.Thanks in advance for your involvement,Ric FosterPublic Lands Department ManagerBlueRibbon Coalition208-237-1008 ext 107PS: Don't forget the WOHVA OHV Rally is scheduled for Friday, February 25, 2011, at the State Capitol. Plan on attending and show your support for motorized off-road recreation.You can download a copy of the flyer <a href="http://documents.clubexpress.com/documents.ashx?key=ExCYHrwHtl0egHvykED3UKgdogikiyuNcYQUKZ3uUQxv4I6OQ%2fFRXQ%3d%3d">here</a>and more information is available on <a href="http://www.wohva.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=811105&module_id=87709">WOHVA OHV Rally 2011 website</a>.The Washington State Legislature has introduced two user fee bills.Senate Bill SB5622 and HB1796 would both require a $30 per year, per vehicle pass to enter any public land managed by Washington state Parks, Department of Natural Resources or Department of Fish and Wildlife.  See links:  <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5622&year=2011">http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5622&year=2011</a>   <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1796&year=2011">http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1796&year=2011</a>   In addition to any street legal vehicle that you take onto public land, this would also apply to your ORV too.  An ORV permit will still be required in addition to this new access pass.  For each $30 pass sold only $2.25 would go to the DNR and none of that would be specifically allocated to support ORV recreation.  Almost all of the rest of the money would go to State Parks where ORV use is prohibited.  If the revenue projections are correct, it works out to over $250 per acre of Parks managed land and only about 75 cents per acre for the land that the DNR manages.  While the mission and recreational goals of the two agencies are different, the funding formula is still unfair to the citizens that recreate on DNR managed public land.  If you don't like this legislation and would like ORVs to be exempt from these new fees, then please let both of your State House of Representatives members and your State Senator know how you feel ASAP.  You can find them and contact them via this link:  <a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov">www.leg.wa.gov</a> Some sample words to consider, or better yet write some of your own.  ++++++++++++  Please exempt offroad vehicles from the public land access fees proposed in HB1796 and SB5622.  They already pay their access fee via the ORV gas tax and ORV use permits.  This is the only trail based recreation in the state that is completely self funded and now the Legislature is proposing to have these same citizens pay more to support other forms of recreation?  For each $30 pass sold only $2.25 would go to the DNR and none of that would be specifically allocated to support ORV recreation.  Almost all of the rest of the money would go to State Parks where ORV use is prohibited.  Wasn't the Governor's request to not allocate general funds for Parks intended to remove the burden of paying for State Parks from the people that do not recreate there?  If so, charging ORV owners a new fee with almost all of it going to State Parks where they cannot recreate does not accomplish that intent.  I support the proper use of the existing fee system.  That is the ORV gas tax refund and the ORV permit fees going into the NOVA grant program and being used to benefit motorized offroad recreation.    ++++++++++++++  happy trails,  Tod PetersenPolitical Action Committee Chairman - Washington Off Highway Vehicle AllianceLegislative/Land Use Coordinator - Northwest Motorcycle AssociationEmail:  <a href="mailto:tod701@aol.com">tod701@aol.com</a> The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education, and collaboration among recreationists. 1-800-BlueRib - <a href="http://www.sharetrails.org">www.sharetrails.org</a> _______________________________________________________As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit <a href="http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now">http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now</a> to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/BlueRibbonCoalition?a=MDQcHS4WZJs:xPeJT_YWcR4:qj6IDK7rITs">[ATTACH=full]1079[/ATTACH]</a>[ATTACH=full]1080[/ATTACH]<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BlueRibbonCoalition/~3/MDQcHS4WZJs/alerts">Continue reading...</a></blockquote>

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