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ISSA President Terry Durby brings snowmobilers up to speed on
new legislation at the 2005 Summer Campout in July at Spook
Cave and Campground near McGregor.
new legislation at the 2005 Summer Campout in July at Spook
Cave and Campground near McGregor.
Fine Increase for Snowmobile
Violations Misses the Cut
By Cameron Hanson
Editor, Iowa Snowmobiler
Thanks to two productive years of lobbying by the ISSA at the
statehouse in Des Moines, David Downing can finally start
crossing off some of the goals he outlined for his office when he
first stepped in three years ago as snowmobile program manager
for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Last spring, the Iowa Legislature overwhelmingly approved
legislation that supports two new measures for which Downing
had long advocated: an electronic registration renewal system for
snowmobiles and a trail permit for out-of-state riders. Governor
Vilsack made it official May 23.
The new licensing system is expected to be activated by
December, whereby snowmobilers will be able to renew their sled
registrations at any depot where hunting and fishing licenses are
sold. Also available electronically, trail permits will be assessed at
$15 and will help generate additional revenue for the state program.
Downing spoke often of the benefit of both systems, and at the
32nd Annual ISSA Convention in November of 2004, he
encouraged snowmobilers to push hard for their passage. Downing
was particularly vocal about the trail permit, given the fees charged
by Minnesota, Wisconsin and other states across the Snow Belt.
In addition to an electronic registration system and trail permit, last
session’s bill also cleans up language issues from Senate File 297 in
2004 as well as paves the way for a one-time registration fee of
$25 for snowmobiles 30 years or older.
One casualty, however, was the proposed increase in fines for
snowmobile infractions that both the IDNR and the ISSA favored.
According to Downing, Iowa lags behind other states in penalties
for non-registered sleds and habitual violators, and ISSA President
Terry Durby feels stiffening the fines would heighten compliance.
“Most people think a $20 fine for not registering their sleds is no
big deal,” Durby said. “Well, we’re trying to get that bumped up
and put some teeth into it so people actually go out and register
their sleds. That way everybody is paying for the trails. It’s not fair
to the rest of us.”
The biggest hurdle faced by the ISSA at the Iowa Legislature with
the proposed fine increase was, according to Durby, that legislators
feared their constituents and opponents would spin it as a tax
increase. In order for the measure to pass next session,
snowmobilers will have their work cut out for them persuading
them otherwise.
As the new legislative session nears, the ISSA will be relying on its
Calling Tree to alert members and friends of snowmobiling in Iowa
when the time is right to call legislators. That chain of events
usually starts with ISSA lobbyists Mike Heller and Paula Feltner.
Stay up-to-date with a subscription to the Iowa Snowmobiler.
If you are comfortable communicating with your legislators and
would like to be added to the Calling Tree, contact Durby at (641)
567-3090 or ISSA Past President Dave Carmichael at (319) 882-
3749 or sign up above right.
Violations Misses the Cut
By Cameron Hanson
Editor, Iowa Snowmobiler
Thanks to two productive years of lobbying by the ISSA at the
statehouse in Des Moines, David Downing can finally start
crossing off some of the goals he outlined for his office when he
first stepped in three years ago as snowmobile program manager
for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Last spring, the Iowa Legislature overwhelmingly approved
legislation that supports two new measures for which Downing
had long advocated: an electronic registration renewal system for
snowmobiles and a trail permit for out-of-state riders. Governor
Vilsack made it official May 23.
The new licensing system is expected to be activated by
December, whereby snowmobilers will be able to renew their sled
registrations at any depot where hunting and fishing licenses are
sold. Also available electronically, trail permits will be assessed at
$15 and will help generate additional revenue for the state program.
Downing spoke often of the benefit of both systems, and at the
32nd Annual ISSA Convention in November of 2004, he
encouraged snowmobilers to push hard for their passage. Downing
was particularly vocal about the trail permit, given the fees charged
by Minnesota, Wisconsin and other states across the Snow Belt.
In addition to an electronic registration system and trail permit, last
session’s bill also cleans up language issues from Senate File 297 in
2004 as well as paves the way for a one-time registration fee of
$25 for snowmobiles 30 years or older.
One casualty, however, was the proposed increase in fines for
snowmobile infractions that both the IDNR and the ISSA favored.
According to Downing, Iowa lags behind other states in penalties
for non-registered sleds and habitual violators, and ISSA President
Terry Durby feels stiffening the fines would heighten compliance.
“Most people think a $20 fine for not registering their sleds is no
big deal,” Durby said. “Well, we’re trying to get that bumped up
and put some teeth into it so people actually go out and register
their sleds. That way everybody is paying for the trails. It’s not fair
to the rest of us.”
The biggest hurdle faced by the ISSA at the Iowa Legislature with
the proposed fine increase was, according to Durby, that legislators
feared their constituents and opponents would spin it as a tax
increase. In order for the measure to pass next session,
snowmobilers will have their work cut out for them persuading
them otherwise.
As the new legislative session nears, the ISSA will be relying on its
Calling Tree to alert members and friends of snowmobiling in Iowa
when the time is right to call legislators. That chain of events
usually starts with ISSA lobbyists Mike Heller and Paula Feltner.
Stay up-to-date with a subscription to the Iowa Snowmobiler.
If you are comfortable communicating with your legislators and
would like to be added to the Calling Tree, contact Durby at (641)
567-3090 or ISSA Past President Dave Carmichael at (319) 882-
3749 or sign up above right.