PEAK PUTTERS

'Discover Pass' for Wash. parks not really $30 with fees .
by ROBERT MAK / KING 5 News
NWCN.com
Posted on June 21, 2011 at 5:42 PM

Updated today at 10:04 AM

OLYMPIA -- To some lawmakers' suprise, there's no way to buy the state's new $30 "Discover Pass" for $30.

Transaction and dealer fees add 16 percent to the cost of the annual pass.

"Well, it's not acceptable to me and I tell you what, I'm going camping next week and I need this permit and I'm not paying $35 for it. So if they haven't figured out the problem, they're going to have to figure it out by the time I get out there," said Sen. Dan Swecker (R-Rochester).

To raise money, the state legislature created the new "Discover Pass." Starting July 1, if you drive into a state park, your vehicle must have the new pass or you could face a $99 penalty. The pass gives you statewide access to parks and natural areas, or you can buy a day permit for $10.

If you purchase the pass at a local sporting goods store, you might expect to pay an extra fee. But you'll also pay more on the state website--a $3 transaction fee is built in, and when you check out, an additional $2 dealer fee is tacked on. The total bill is $35.

"It is one of the realities of doing business in modern times, lots of people who handle ticketing and passes and that kind of thing have additional fees attached," said Virginia Painter, spokesperson for Washington State Parks.

Some state lawmakers are pretty surprised. The legislation they approved spelled out "thirty dollars" for the annual pass, and "ten dollars" for the single-day pass (which in reality is $11.50 with additional fees). State Sen. Kevin Ranker, who sponsored the legislation, says it was his understanding that any transaction costs would be built into the $30, not passed along to parks users.

"We promised $30," Ranker said.

Washington State Parks says this is the same system used for years to sell fishing and hunting licenses, and they have always charged extra transaction and dealer fees. The state says it's the same as buying concert tickets -- you don't pay face value.

"The reason is, the vendor who's handling the sales, this is a private business, that we contract with through fish and wildlife, and they have to make their money, it costs them to produce this thing," Painter said.

The state says there will be a way to avoid extra fees starting this fall, if you buy the Discover Pass when renewing your car tabs. But for now, if you want to comply with the law this summer, you have no choice but to pay the extra $5.


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I heard rumor that REI may discount the pass. Any news to that??? On the website it does imply addional fees may apply. No suprise here!


Rumor is $31.99 at REI...

Pass it on: Change near for park fees


June 20, 2011 by Scott Sandsberry

YAKIMA, Wash. — Hunters, anglers and anybody else who drives onto state land: If you aren’t certain whose land upon which you stand, beware.

Or discover the Discover Pass.

It’ll cost you — $33 for an annual pass, or $11 for a daily — but the alternative is a $99 ticket if you find out too late the state wildlife land you’ve always thought you were camping on is actually managed by the Department of Natural Resources.



Much DNR land still abuts Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife property, in the checkerboard ownership pattern of one-mile squares that both agencies have for years been trying to eradicate. For years, that hasn’t mattered to hunters; their WDFW permit came with a vehicle pass good for state wildlife lands — and transferable between two vehicles, yet — and those DNR lands didn’t require a vehicle pass.

Well, they will as of July 1, when the Discover Pass goes into effect.

And the pass can only be used on one vehicle. You won’t be able to move it between your pickup truck, your brother’s SUV and the family motor home. If you take them all onto those state lands at one time or another, you’ll need a pass for each.

Not surprisingly, the Discover Pass hasn’t been welcomed by the public.

Among the largely negative comments on the WDFW’s Facebook site — some of which are routinely removed because of profanity — is one by a hunter who says succinctly, “I refuse to buy one. I will vote my wallet. I will only access areas that my WDFW permit allows.â€

Personally, IDGAF if REI was to sell them for $0.99... remember they are the debil when it comes to supporting land closures and non-motorized recreational access to our public lands. I won't give them a single cent of my money.

The fees on top of the pass don't bother me... it is the same for my fishing and hunting license. The confusion of when and where you need a pass bothers me. But, what really gets me, is that it is not transferable between vehicles.

(Oh, and what Toby said.)

They will just use the money for anything BUT what it is intended anyway. I don't see a reason to waste even more money so I'll be purchasing a scanner for the wheeler instead.

iaccocca wrote:The fees on top of the pass don't bother me... it is the same for my fishing and hunting license. The confusion of when and where you need a pass bothers me. But, what really gets me, is that it is not transferable between vehicles.

(Oh, and what Toby said.)

Whats the confusion? You need it on DNR land, WDFW land and State Parks.

benw wrote:

iaccocca wrote:The fees on top of the pass don't bother me... it is the same for my fishing and hunting license. The confusion of when and where you need a pass bothers me. But, what really gets me, is that it is not transferable between vehicles.

(Oh, and what Toby said.)

Whats the confusion? You need it on DNR land, WDFW land and State Parks.

Do I need a Discovery pass and a WDFW permit? When am I on DNR land? Good luck figuring that out. When do I need An Annual Northwest Forest Pass, a Washington and Oregon Recreation Pass or an Interagency Annual Pass?

I think they will find this unenforceable and just a couple of us responsible suckers will be paying for this permit.
Better bet, don't steal our NOVA funds then you don't have to come up with an ill considered plan to recover the funds.
I think every member here and most users would gladly pay a fair, well thought out fee, for land use that put the money back where it belongs. But, after the theft of our NOVA funds we do not trust this government to properly implement the funds generated by this pass. Plus, it is being very poorly implemented.

tobyw wrote:Personally, IDGAF if REI was to sell them for $0.99... remember they are the debil when it comes to supporting land closures and non-motorized recreational access to our public lands. I won't give them a single cent of my money.

x1billion

Too bad they have such cool stuff.

one of the all wheelers members is a ranger at a state park, and he was told no parking in the parking lot of the park, ( day use only park ) unless all vehicles have a discover pass

The discover pass is a good idea, but is being implimented with piss poor planning. There are way to many different access passes that are required now. And the fact that I'd have to buy a Discover pass for every vehicle that I want to take onto the DNR land is stupid. This is just another way to discover how the governement can bend you over

"This is just another way to discover how the governement can bend you over."


I think we already have that part down!

iaccocca wrote:
Do I need a Discovery pass and a WDFW permit? When am I on DNR land? Good luck figuring that out. When do I need An Annual Northwest Forest Pass, a Washington and Oregon Recreation Pass or an Interagency Annual Pass?

You're way over complicating it.

They actually simplified things quite a bit with the Discovery Pass. It is good for all DNR, WDFW and day use State Park land.

The Northwest Forest Pass and Interagency Pass are federal passes, they aren't relevant on state land. The WA/OR recreation pass is also a federal pass but from what I can tell it exempts you from dump or boat launch fees at 23 WA State Parks. Doesn't have anything to do with day use of WA State Parks land.

WDFW Vehicle Access Passes are for WDFW Wildlife Areas or Water Access Sites. They aren't used on DNR land. Every Vechicle Access Pass site I've ever seen is signed as such.

I don't like the Discover Pass any more than anyone else but it baffles me that people can't grasp the concept of where it is required. There seems to be a boat load of people out there who don't comprehend the difference between federal and state land and don't know what agency manages the land they use.

I think what people are getting upset with is the fact that every agency is coming out with a pass to access the lands they manage and its starting to get spendy to be an outdoorsman. Especially if you have more than one vehicle that you use. I don't mind paying a fee to help keep things open and taken care of, but when I have to buy several different passes through out the year and even multiples of the same pass, it gets frustrating.

Just sell me an WA state outdoors pass to do everything on state land for 100 bucks a year like the article in the Herald said.

Lud wrote:Just sell me an WA state outdoors pass to do everything on state land for 100 bucks a year like the article in the Herald said.

Never happen. If they did that then there would be no excuse to have so many .gov employees doing nothing for a check in each department.

I am not happy about 60 Bucks per vehicle, No way am I volunteering to pay $100. it is a kick in the face to recreationists to have to pay for something that has always been free, and have a majority of the money go to the same place all of the other stolen money from the ORV tabs and gas tax went

we were originally told that 24 volunteer hours would count to your discover pass, and then they changed their mind, and we get nothing, that pissed me off as well

One of the good things about this state is public initiatives. I don't know how one gets started but it would be good. Hey we voted out the candy and pop taxes last year.

Trying to figure out where this is going to be needed around here. From what ive read all state parks so im assuming it wont be needed for Juniper sand dunes(blm) but will be needed at Hover(Hover state park)?

I agree this is completely stupid and that none of the money will go back to where it is supposed to, It seems like everytime something like this comes into affect the money that is raised with it is used against us!

Im going to be pissed if it is needed out at hover. The state rapes me on ORV tabs then if i have to have this pass that means i will have to put it on all of my ORV's on top of the tabs they are already getting me for plus my truck to haul the toys out which i pay licensing on PLUS my blazer which i already pay licensing on