Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 14, 1993 TAG: 9302150305
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
BOAT FUNDING DOESN'T FLOAT
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries came up with an empty hook in its effort to snag some additional operating funds from the General Assembly.The agency's hopes were riding on a Senate bill that would have rerouted the 2 percent watercraft titling fee from the general fund to its boating program. The bill, introduced by Sen. Stanley Walker, D-Norfolk, died in the Senate Finance Committee
"I think somebody down there is against us," said Leon Turner, of Fincastle, who has been working to reroute the titling fee during his seven years as a game department board member.
"We got a little closer this time," said Turner, who goes off the board in July.
The department estimated that the titling fee would net it about $2.3 million annually, which would go a long way toward wiping out the $2.6 million shortfall in the boating program. The program currently is supplemented by hunting and fishing license fees.
The titling fee is money provided by boaters, and it should go to boating programs, Turner said. Legislators were told that switching the funds could be done in increments, to avoid a sudden loss to the general fund.
"That way we could have planned some for the future," Turner said.
The bill received support from the Virginia Wildlife Federation, the Virginia State B.A.S.S. Federation, the State Boat Advisory Committee and the Smith Mountain Lake Association, but it was passed by the day it came before the Senate Finance Committee.
"To me, the most injustice was that the committee didn't even hear it," said Leon McFillen, of Arlington, the board chairman. "I don't mind getting defeated, but let us at least get into the game."
Here is the status of other bills of special interest to outdoorsmen:
One of the best spots to catch a bass is around a boat dock or shoreline brush pile, so the Virginia State B.A.S.S. Federation nearly had a backlash over a bill that could have prohibited the operation of a boat at Smith Mountain Lake "within 50 feet of a dock, shore or swimmer." Some outdoorsmen wondered if it would even keep a dock owner from tying up at his own dock.
Introduced by Sen. Virgil Goode, D-Rocky Mount, the bill has been amended and is on its way to approval under wording that would require watercraft equipped with engines greater than 20 horsepower to remain below planing speed while within 50 feet of the shore or a dock. Counties adjacent to the lake would have to adopt the idea through identical ordinances.
A bill that would allow Sunday hunting for pen-raised game birds on shooting preserves weathered opposition from the Virginia Audubon Council and is awating the signature of the governor.
Preserve operators favored the bill, saying they were losing business because of Virginia's ban on Sunday hunting.
"How do you distinguish between shooting a pen-raised bobwhite and a wild bobwhite?" asked Jim Strawn, past president of the Richmond Audubon Society. "This bill will open the door for demands of Sunday hunting of all other game species."
The measure exempts Augusta County.
The Virginia Game Warden Association is supporting a bill by R. Creigh Deeds of Warm Springs that would put more teeth into the anti-road hunting effort.
"If this bill is passed, I believe it will affect both hunting and game wardens in a positive manner," said Bruce Lemmert, president of the association.
Under current law, shooting within 100 yards of a road can result in a fine of up to $250. This bill would beef up the penalty, giving the court the option of taking the firearm of anyone shooting from a road and revoking the offender's hunting licenses for up to five years. If caught hunting from the road while the license has been revoked, the fine can go to $1,000 and six months in jail. The bill has received House approval.
A bill that would have raised the price of a muzzle-loading hunting license from $12 to $20 for residents and $25 to $50 for non-residents found few friends and was passed over in the House. It was introduced by Del. Watkins Abbitt, D-Appomattox.
"Why should black powder guys pay more than bowhunters or firearms hunters?" asked Jim Brewer, publisher of the Virginia Outdoor Weekly. "Raise them all or leave them alone, Mr. Abbitt."
Across the board hunting and fishing license fee increases are expected in the 1994 General Assembly.
Opponents of swan hunting in Virginia failed to gain support for a bill that would have provided for a continuous closed season. The measure was supported by many of the same people who have appeared annually before the Department of Game and Fisheries asking for a closed season.
State game officials have established a modest season for the past several years, saying it is needed to abate damage to crops and wildlife habitat by swans.
"This is not the time to shoot the rare swan for spot," said Dr. William J. L. Sladen, who leads the opposition to the season.
Water skiers will have less time for their sport under a bill that was approved by the House. Skiing now is permittted from one-half hour after sunrise to one-half hour before sunset. The bill would regulate skiing to one hour after sunrise through one hour before sunset.
Bills that have failed include those that would let kids under age 14 operate a personal watercraft; would require people born after July 1, 1978, to take boating education prior to operating a watercraft; would repeal the saltwater fishing license.