RESPONSE
Dennis,

Thank you for contacting the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

The Vehicle Use Permit is a complimentary permit with purchase of your license and allows you to ONLY utilize WDFW land. Therefore, you have not yet made an investment.

Purchasing the Vehicle Use Permit allows you the opportunity to utilize WDFW lands. It is your choice whether or not you actually use it. Choosing to utilize WDFW land prior to July 1, 2011 requires the Vehicle Use Permit, since the Discover Pass is not yet available. So, as you should be able to deduce, we have not erred or charged you twice.

Furthermore, the revenue generated will be split among the three agencies as follows:

· 84 percent to State Parks
· 8 percent Fish and Wildlife
· 8 percent Department of Natural Resources

Revenue from the Discover Pass is needed to make up the loss of general fund money that had historically been available for recreation on state lands. The proposed state budget for the next two years (2011-2013 biennium’s) has almost no general fund dollars for recreation on state lands.

For State Parks, the loss of general fund money means the agency needs to replace approximately $61 million to operate the park system. DNR and WDFW each need to replace $5.5 million in general fund losses to keep recreation lands and water access sites open.

These lands include state parks, water access points, heritage sites, wildlife and natural areas, trails and trailheads.

For more information please go to the Discover Pass Frequently Asked Questions at: http://discoverpass.wa.gov/faq/ OR to the Discover Pass Home Page a: http://discoverpass.wa.gov/ Information is being updated weekly.

Feel free to send to: Licensing@dfw.wa.gov any suggestions for improvements or requests for additional information. Our customer feedback and questions are being evaluated daily. The information provided by our customers is a very important to us, and is used to improve our services and website. For questions or comment regarding the Discover Pass you may also contact us directly by phone at: Call toll-free (866) 320-9933.


Sincerely,
Tracy Rainwater
Customer Service Specialist

REPLY

Tracy Rainwater,

I sent off the email as a "heads-up" so those folks who can make a change, are able to do so prior to July 1st. You will note that there was no check or money order enclosed with my e-mail.

Your contention that the Vehicle Use Permit is complimentary is not correct. If I approach a dealer and ask for a Vehicle Use Permit, it will cost me $12 (plus service fee). So the Permit has a $12 value, and is, by the way, only good for two months if I purchased it on May 1st. In my mind, the Department has to address this value in some manner or another. I will be sending in my check for $18 and fully expect to be mailed a Discover Card. If that doesn't happen and I receive a citation for accessing a "Discovery Pass Required" area, then a judge will decide whether or not the Department can legally collect this duplicate charge.

And while I am sympathetic to the cash flow dilemma faced by my State, and to the many Departments whose financing is dependant on State funding, it is not OK to collect the needed monies inequitably..........which is exactly what is presently planned.

Please feel free to forward our correspondence to whomever you feel has the most power to rectify this problem.

Thank You,