Boat registration increase

Checkout a bill in the NC Senate S58 !!! North Carolina General Assembly - Senate Bill 58 Information/History (2013-2014 Session)

While I see benefit in the increase, as it sets aside a portion of the monies to used to acquire land to provide more access, I think this may meet with some wide oppositon in that it affects those who never fish saltwater and will not benefit from the increase in fees as they pay for dredging. I have even deeper concerns, after it was pointed out to me that we're talking about dredging channels 12 to 20 ft deep, that make these channels navigable for large shrimp trawlers, yet the commercial fleet isn't being asked to share this burden. I have witnessed some great things being done by the NCWRC as it relates to the improvements of our boating access, in the past few years and I'm not opposed to a moderate increase used for the right purposes. However, this bill seems quite excessive and misplaced in its usage.

I do not oppose an increase because I have enjoyed the new ramps that were built on Radio Island near Morehead City. Most of this money came from the salt water fishing license. I do think that the Reg. fees should be based on boat size and horsepower. I don't mind the trawlers going through the inlets as long as they leave the nets at home.

Just saw it on News14...
http://coastal.news14.com/content/top_stories/691358/proposed-bill-would-increase-boat-fees-for-deeper-inlets

SEA DANCER wrote:I do not oppose an increase because I have enjoyed the new ramps that were built on Radio Island near Morehead City. Most of this money came from the salt water fishing license. I do think that the Reg. fees should be based on boat size and horsepower. I don't mind the trawlers going through the inlets as long as they leave the nets at home.

While I generally don't oppose increases in these fees I feel like this increase is outrageous. Plus I'm not sure if freshwater boaters should be on the hook for something that they will not use. If the inlets are that important then everyone in the state should have to pay not just boaters!!!