New Trailer Decal Requirement

[Boxcar Wllie]

Picked up a card at the DNR lodge at the Fair. Apparently, beginning on Jan. 5, 2015 if you trailer a boat or use water-related equipment in MN, you need to take AIS training and get a decal. The gentleman that I spoke with in the AIS display, didn't know anything about it until he showed up for work the other day at the lodge. Anyone have any additional info?

[Boxcar Wllie]

www.trailers.mndnr.gov

Looks like $5 for the course and $2 for each additional trailer. Good for 3 years. Must need to pay for all of those pressure-washers they bought.

[harvey lee]

I had my boat washed the other day and I found out about this new sticker from them. Yes, online course and a decal. You will now need to know what a spiney flea is and a zeeb and the different weeds. Once every three 3 years unless they dump this decal like they did the last one.

last one I put on 1 day, week later, program ended for the decal and took it off.

The unit they washed the boat with did not cost just too much, the truck they had, with 3 plastic tanks in the box, 1 for the fresh water and another to suck up the water they used to do the boat. I believe they use hot water so I would guess a water heater of some sort also. Didn't look like to spendy of a rig set up Boxcar but, still added unneeded costs.

[LMITOUT]

Quote:

I'm visiting Minnesota from another state with my boat and trailer. Do I still need a decal?

Minnesota law states that anyone transporting watercraft or water-related equipment in Minnesota needs to complete training and display the decal on their trailer. You can register for the class and get a temporary pass that gives you 7 days to complete the training.

*facepalm*

[CaptainMusky]

What a fiasco.

[blue_healer_guy]

I dont even know what to say.

[PurpleFloyd]

I dont even know what to say.

Enough is enough?

[going4it]

So my dad 73 years old will have to go online when he has never been on the internet? Smart choice.

[Igor Drackenwolf]

If the nanny-staters had their way, transporting a boat between bodies of water would be illegal. 2-stroke engines would be illegal. Catching fish would be illegal.

At some point, regulations become a burden to the point where they begin to be viewed as illegitimate by the people thus burdened.

[eyeguy 54]

[expl]

I domt have a way to access the internet....Ha!!!

[leechlake]

Finally we have found a way to out fox Mother Nature via an internet based education course. This course will obviously also lead to economic booms to all aspects of water related industry; boating, resorts, sporting goods equipment sales. Not to mention getting younger people involved in the outdoors!!!

Seriously though I can think of about a handful of fellow anglers that for whatever reason do not choose to use the internet, most are older guys but one is about 55 and just doesn't do it. I'm sure they can make a work around for them but most will sit down with someone and fake take the course and get the sticker.

Frankly if they are going to require this they may as add on a "Boating Safety" chapter or two that actually may be beneficial. I hate to even throw that idea out but add on something that may safe a human life while were at it.

[vermilionfox]

Looks like I'll need to take care of this before I come up north next summer.

[brmuskie]

Here is a link to the HSOforum with info if you want.

http://trailers.mndnr.gov/

I especially like the part where out-of-state boat owners can just register for the course, get a temporary 7 day pass, and not actually take the course..... sort of sounds like they just want the money but I'm sure that's not it.

[candiru]

Here is a link to the HSOforum with info if you want.

http://trailers.mndnr.gov/

I especially like the part where out-of-state boat owners can just register for the course, get a temporary 7 day pass, and not actually take the course..... sort of sounds like they just want the money but I'm sure that's not it.

They have 7 days to complete the course:

"Minnesota law states that anyone transporting watercraft or water-related equipment in Minnesota needs to complete training and display the decal on their trailer. You can register for the class and get a temporary pass that gives you 7 days to complete the training."

The resort owners would be screaming if their NR guests got to the state and couldn't put their boats in the water till they finished this.

The way this reads a NR would have to get this decal just to transport a boat through MN. even if it was not going to be launched in MN.

[IcePro]

"Minnesota law states that anyone transporting watercraft or water-related equipment in Minnesota needs to complete training .....

So does this mean that both my wife and I need to take the course since we both drive pulling the boat or since the trailer has a decal it does not matter on who is driving?

[LMITOUT]

Need a decal on the trailer.

[BobT]

You know what this is doing? It is setting it up so there is no excuse and citations can be easier to enforce. Once we have that decal, we declare we've been trained therefore we will now be held accountable. It'll be easier to issue citations and convict for lack of compliance.

[BobT]

What was everyone saying two years ago when we were required to put stickers on our boats? Oh yes, I can paraphrase it. "It's just a sticker. What's the big deal?"

The big deal is the same as it is with everything. Infringement upon our rights and freedoms.

Infringe:

act so as to limit or undermine (something); encroach on.

synonyms: restrict, limit, curb, check, encroach on, undermine, erode, diminish, weaken, impair, damage, compromise

[ozzie]

this is unreal...are there any lakes in the state that aren't infested with an invassive? It should be as of boat registration renewals the test and sticker should have to be done!!! And why am I paying money for all this talk just to have these DNR people waste my time everytime I launch my boat and give them the right to pull me over on the highway for no reason while I am pulling my boat?

[ClownColor]

I'm onboard! They should call it "boater education" then I think everyone here would agree its a good thing.

[BobT]

When will they (DNR or State of MN or both) get their heads out of their behinds and actually think things through logically?! I’m not a biologist but I don’t need a college degree to understand that this is nothing more than a concerted effort to finance the bogus waste of money and resources that has already been underway for the past few years.

Don’t misunderstand me. I understand that there are invasive species that need to be addressed. I lower my outboard so it drains, I pull the plug so it drains, I drain my livewell even though I don’t like to, I bring tap water from home so I can change the water of my live bait before I leave the lake, and I do my best to remove whatever plants or other things are clinging to my trailer or boat. I may not like doing all of this but I have been for years.

If we’d spend the money we‘ve been wasting on bandaids like AIS stickers, power wash stations, and AIS sniffing dogs on research to find a real solution we’d probably have solved much of the problem already.

I think about what was done here in the Alexandria chain and laugh at the “wisdom” that was displayed. When zebras were found in Lake LeHomme Dieu the passage into Lake Geneva was closed to “prevent the spread.” LAKE GENEVA IS DOWNSTREAM FROM LeHOMME DIEU AND IF THESE THINGS ARE CLINGING TO MY BOAT THEY ARE SUSPENDED IN THE WATER COLUMN!!! The next year the passage was reopened because zebras were found in Geneva. Go figure! (insert major sarcasm here).

Personally, if it could somehow be organized I think we fishermen and women should do one of two things or maybe even both.

1. We should refuse to submit to the training and tell the state and/or DNR to stick that sticker in a dark place I won’t mention.

2. Every fisherman or woman in Minnesota should refuse to purchase a fishing license or stamp for the entire year. Notice I did not say we should refrain from fishing.

There are 1.5 million fishing licenses sold in MN annually, which would result in a loss of over $25M in revenue. Let them try to issue citations to 25%-30% of the population. Good luck with that!

Okay, I’m done with my rant. Just had to get this off my chest before I explode.

[hayseed]

What was everyone saying two years ago when we were required to put stickers on our boats? Oh yes, I can paraphrase it. "It's just a sticker. What's the big deal?"

The big deal is the same as it is with everything. Infringement upon our rights and freedoms.

Infringe:

act so as to limit or undermine (something); encroach on.

synonyms: restrict, limit, curb, check, encroach on, undermine, erode, diminish, weaken, impair, damage, compromise

An infringement on your right/freedom to do anything you wish at whatever expense???

I see it more as a mandate for personal responsibility. If everyone seen it that way the mandate would be unnecessary. Aren’t we all responsible for protecting those things we value? We have all these new laws because too many folks refused to take responsibility for their actions. I know, I know it’s another government intrusion, but someone come up with a better way to stop or slow the spread. This global economy is bringing pests in faster than the ones we have can be dealt with. I for one am not ready to accept defeat yet and proclaim nothing can be done so let exotics run their course.

It has long been known that the best process for dealing with invasive species is education. That’s why the first sticker method was such a mess and a waste of time and money. No education involved.

I’ll reserve my opinion until I see the education part of this mess, but hopefully everyone will learn the ramifications of doing nothing and how to identify these pests. I hope it’s interactive with a process to make sure people are paying attention instead of tuning in for 30 minutes and walk away to do something else. It could end up a huge waste of time and money again. Hope for the best-expect the worst.

[BobT]

Quote:

An infringement on your right/freedom to do anything you wish at whatever expense???

Oh yes. That's exactly what I said. Personally, I think I'd prefer to tell you where you can put that thought.

[harvey lee]

You know what this is doing? It is setting it up so there is no excuse and citations can be easier to enforce. Once we have that decal, we declare we've been trained therefore we will now be held accountable. It'll be easier to issue citations and convict for lack of compliance.

Exactly what I thought BobT.

There are times I really wonder if all would have complied, would we be having a test to be able to identify AIS? Probably not, now as stated above, we know the difference so when we get stopped and have 1 weed on the trailer, we will receive a citation for it.

I believe this is all so they can raise the fines and collect more fee's, using the excuse that boaters would not comply, which a big percenatge did not. yes, some did but many did not.

I was at a gas station south of Mille lacs a year or so ago and I stopped to get a pop, there were 9 boats in their parking lot, 1 boat had their plug out. I guess from seeing that, the DNR can say, boaters would not comply so now we will receive a new firmer set of rules and you will not be able to say to the CO, I did not know that was a zeeb or spiney flea. Now comes the fine.