Parking Fees on Public Lands
Our state park’s day use fee was the last straw. It was only one of many similar fees in play.
Each individual must abide by all Federal, State, County/local and city mandates for parking on public lands. Each jurisdiction is represented by different politicians and governmental bodies. It is easy to forget that in a day’s travels it is completely realistic to pass through several jurisdictions-all of which-charge a fee to park on public land.
I am a lifelong user of our state parks and the other public lands in our state.
I keep all my passes together so that I will not forget how complicated it can be to stay in compliance during a day's outing.
I have purchased a $50 State Parks day pass each year since they came out. I have spent $200 on these passes so far. How much is enough for a lifetime pass?
The National Forest Service Northwest Forest Pass is the permit required to park a car for a few hours on some federal Forest Service lands in our state. Parts of these lands may be leased for mining, logging, cattle grazing, etc., but Joe Six-Pack and the family still need to pay to visit here.
The WDFW Vehicle Use Permit is "free" with the purchase of a hunting or fishing license, but still required for a fee even if not hunting or fishing on WDFW lands. The tag must be displayed if you are just bird watching, paddling in a canoe, swimming, etc. For some reason you must designate a maximum of 2 vehicles that you will be authorized to use while visiting the outback each year!?! People- not cars, are licensed to fish. If I buy my license for the year, why would I need to declare a maximum of two vehicles to be used to go to the lake during a 12 month period? Maybe I want to go to a different part of the state and rent a car, maybe we are having a family reunion and I want to go with others in their vehicle, maybe I buy a new vehicle, maybe I want to ride with my girlfriend, borrow my ex-wife’s car etc.
To simplify matters-
Look here to clear up any confusion.
We should pay taxes or users fees to visit public lands- not both.
We should pay taxes or users fees to visit public lands- not both.
If we must pay a user fee, lets go with one opt in/opt out fee that covers universal access, just like the fee we pay for a driver’s license or plates.
Currently, we have too many passes for too many jurisdictions.
Don’t mind paying- just not twice. User friendly works- cut out the checkerboard pattern of boundaries and jurisdictions- each with their own mandates.
“They work for us”
I have not yet purchased the National Parks Pass.
April 2006 Update: Fees are no longer collected for daytime parking at our state parks.
April 2006 Update: Fees are no longer collected for daytime parking at our state parks.
