Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 27, 1994 TAG: 9402270015
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
\ TROUT LICENSE: Trout anglers will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets beginning in 1995, when the license fee for fishing stocked streams is expected to jump from $6.50 to $12 ($12.50 including the issuing fee).
The House and Senate have approved the increase, which makes the license legislation one of the few "outdoor" bills that has won approval. It now awaits the governor's signature.
Don't expect the extra $500,000 annually to result in major new trout programs. This is the first trout license increase since 1985. It is expected to do little more than get the program out of the red.
"What this does, it allows the trout license to support the put-and-take trout program," said Gary Martel, chief of the fish division for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
\ BOAT TAX: A bill that would re-route the 2 percent boat titling tax from the General Fund to the boat program is languishing in a Senate committee after passing the House 99-0.
Supporters continue to express optimism, but there's a snag in the form of Sen. Hunter Andrews, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Andrews doesn't like the idea of the General Fund losing more than $2 million annually to the boat program.
The fact is, the boat tax money shouldn't be viewed as General Fund cash in the first place. It is boat program money being misdirected. Because that's the case, hunting and fishing license fees must be used to supplement the boat program. It isn't right for the rabbit hunter and the bluegill fisherman to pay the way for a yacht owner.
\ USE FEE: Hunters, fishermen and boaters had hoped to get some help from birdwatchers, hikers and other outdoorsmen in funding the operation of Department of Game and Inland Fisheries facilities, but it doesn't appear that will happen. A bill that would charge a fee of those who use such facilities but don't support them through a license or boat registration fee is reported to be "sick." At best, it might be carried over to next year.
\ CROSSBOWS: It should have been killed long ago, but a bill that would legalize the use of a crossbow during the bowhunting season continues to make progress. It has been taking some licks, however. First it was amended to apply only to private land, then only to land owned by the person hunting on it.
Legislators should have backed off when they learned the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is committed to studying crossbow use and has planned hearings for public input. Hunting regulations should be left to the game department, not the General Assembly.
\ WATER SKIING: Along with life jackets, skis and tow ropes, water-skiers may have to add a mirror to their equipment list. The idea comes from debates by lawmakers over whether a boat should have an observer in addition to the operator when pulling a skier. Under current regulations, you can tow a skier without an observer as long as the skier is wearing a life jacket.
The House passed a bill requiring an observer 72-26. Some skiers didn't like the idea, including members of the Smith Mountain Lake Water Ski Club.
The Senate went to work on the House bill and changed it to say that as long as a ski boat has a mirror so the operator can watch the skier, then an observer isn't necessary. Now the bill is ready for a Senate vote.
\ ROAD KILLS: A bill that would prohibit shooting a gun within 100 yards of a road has been watered down. The measure passed the House and is in the Senate, where an amended version says "within 50 feet of a public road."
A second road bill was killed that would have made it illegal to transport a loaded rifle or shotgun in a vehicle unless it was locked in a gun rack or trunk.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB