Boat Ownership Fees for Non-Motorized Watercraft in New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Senate will be voting this week on a bill that would mandate that canoe and kayak owners register their non-motorized boats with the state. Boat owners would be required to pay a $10 fee per boat per year. In exchange they would receive a decal registering their boat with the state. This has caused some mixed feelings among canoe and kayak owners in the state. Some don’t think the state is doing enough to justify the fee, such as providing access points and safe parking areas for boaters. Others think the fee will enable the state to spend more to improve the boating experience. There are also those who feel that this law will set yet another precident for other states and that it is merely a way to save the fish and wildlife division from financial trouble.

It will be interesting to see which way this one goes. Watch for news on the vote Wednesday. The American Whitewater website has been following the story and should have first word on how the vote goes.

Add comment March 13th, 2007