Date:         Fri, 13 May 2011 09:37:52 -0700
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: new Washington State public lands fees
Comments: To: mcneely4@cox.net
In-Reply-To:  <20110513122105.7OVKJ.431648.imail@eastrmwml37>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

 RE: New Washington Public Lands Fees

I agree that the $30 annual fee is not that outrageous especially for those
that camp and travel year round.  But the real problem is going to be the
extent of where the fees apply.  Washington is a patchwork of State, Federal
and local jurisdiction.  90% of the average families are not going to know
whether or not they are parking/camping in a bunch of areas that this will
apply to but will not be posted.  A few years back Washington started
charging a $5.00 parking fee at all the State Parks parking areas, even if
only stopping for five minutes to admire the view.  One particularly nasty
spot, a big tourist attraction, was the small parking lot at Deception
Pass.  Pull in to take a look: $5.00.  And it was mostly ignored.  But
started causing a real stink when the visiting relatives of a member of the
Legislature stopped there and got a ticket within a minute or so of parking,
hadn't even had a chance to walk to the other end of the lot and pay.  About
two years ago Washington ended that whole program because it was so
offensive.  And there had also been a lot of national online chatter about
it warning travelers to avoid State Park parking lots.
Let's wait and see what kind of stink starts when they start writing $99
tickets for mom and pop and the kids when they just want to have a picnic at
the local park.