WI non-resident boat registration fee proposed

They already get you for more than that with an ATV or Snowmobile. It was only a matter of time.

I am not in favor of this, but 15 dollars never broke anyone over the age of 12 years old.
How many people spend 15 dollars a week on smokes, beer, eating out, soda, night crawlers, crankbaits or chewing tobacco? Just consider it paying for another one of the “vices” in life.
Stinks never the less.

Don’t you have to register your ice shack in MN, and what is the cost of that?
We don’t have that registration in WI.or we don’t have to have a license on a trailer also.

They got rid of the MN ice shack registration unless you are leaving it out on the ice overnight AND unattended.

I wonder how they will get past legal precedents in the Interstate Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. If they can do that with boats, they would be able to do that with cars too.

I don’t think this one will get very far.

Being a WI resident I personally think this is ridiculous and after finding out about this I contacted my reps. Mark Miller and Gary Hebl. Both are firmly in the governor’s pocket though so I don’t expect much relief on this one. The best bet will be for the resorts and folks who rely on the visitors to our state to raise caine with our politicos.

This money won’t go to better landings etc… this is just another fee which the governor can use to hide the real mess he has made of the budget. I can’t wait to see him justify this fee against the potential loss of revenue from visitors to our state.

I sure hope the WI folks who read this post remember this the next time they vote and the next time they hear about declining revenue.

Even the folks in Canada are friendlier to visitors in terms of fees charged even with the “outdoor card” at least that lasts a few years.

All I can say is I am sorry for our political leadership and how myopic their vision is.

What I have never been able to understand is why politicians in general can not live within their means. If you and I have a budget short fall we cut corners and our activities to meet our budget or we get a part time job. If the budget has to be cut then cut the darn thing don’t nickel, dime, penny, and fifteen dollars per boat fee us to death to fix your budget shortfalls. I make two trips each year to Lake Michigan to salmon fish in my own boat and several winter trips out of Everts to fish pool 4 so yes I will probable pay the $15 but I don’t have to like it.

Why would professional or promotional fisherman be exempt from this fee? Are they not using the resource the same way as we are? As a former walleye tournament angler I paid what ever fees were required to participate in each event and I am sure if you asked the guys that are on tour today they would think nothing of paying an additional $15 to compete in an event that they may make some money at and participate in a sport that they love.