North Carolina Legislators Looking to Charge Boaters New, Higher Fee
BoatUS Urges Boaters to be Heard
Would
be Highest State-Imposed Charges on Boats in the US
THE
ISSUE
As part of the current North Carolina budget debate, the state General Assembly
is currently considering legislation that would impose a significant new user
fee on all recreational boats 24 feet and longer that are used in coastal
waters. For example, the costs proposed for the new North Carolina “Coastal
Waterways User Identification Fee” for a 25-foot boat would be $75, $128 for a
32-foot boat, and $200 for a 40-footer. This fee would also apply to any
out-of-state vessel fishing in NC coastal waters. Combined with registration
fees, the proposed Coastal Boat Fee would be
the highest state-imposed charges on recreational boats nationwide.
The proposed
fee would be in addition to current state registration fees, which were most
recently increased in 2013 to fund dredging and lake weed control. To see a
complete list of fees, go to: BoatUS.com/gov/ncfeechart.
ACTION
NEEDED NOW
Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) urges North Carolina
boaters, anglers, and sailors to speak out now and contact their State Senator
and Representative today and respectfully urge them to vote "No" on
the “Coastal Waterways User Identification Number” and associated user fee
contained in the North Carolina Senate version of House Bill 97.
While the
intended use of this fee is to increase funding for dredging of waterways and
inlets, this budget proposal places too great a financial burden on
recreational boaters. Ask your State Senator and Representative to consider
other means to pay for dredging North Carolina’s coastal inlets and essential
waterways. Access to the waterways brings substantial economic benefits to
coastal communities. Maintaining them must be a shared responsibility.
The budget
bill is now before the North Carolina General Assembly and will be voted on in
the next few days. Boaters may easily contact their state legislator by going
to: http://goo.gl/zWMTpx