WA State legislation heads-up!

Washingtonians, I just saw this posted over in my dive club forum, and thought it ought to be put here too.  This could affect not only river paddlers but us too.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/display/full/id/32138/

Full text of the bill is there but basically it shuts off a lot of small access points, both river and salt, unless there is enough space for "adequate parking". 

This bill should join Clippy and Barney in a shallow unmarked grave somewhere...

Jim

Sounds like rich a-holes trying to keep us plebians away from "their" waterfront

Whoa!!!!

Hang on....

This actually sounds unconstitutional and un-enforcable.  Can I park in a parking lot and walk to the water?  Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.  If there are Parking issues, enforce existing parking ordinances.  Public land is public land.  I will continue to park my truck legally and walk to the water legally.  Who is sponsoring this bill?!?!?

Yea...this is crap for everyone who plays on or around the water.

Is there a petition somewhere?

Sponsor is state rep from Richland, go to the bill link for lots more info and contacts.  Whitewater paddlers are getting fired up about it, as are divers....

Jim

I can offer a little background since I reside in the city of West Richland (the district that spawned this legislative nonsense), and I am very familiar with the issue that gave the sponsor the inspiration to concoct this phlegm. 

Larry Haler (sponsor) is only doing this because of a couple of very vocal landowners living on the Yakima River adjacent to the Twin Bridges Road bridge crossing over the river.  It is a very popular access point for rafters, yakkers, and paddlers and floaters of all types, and each summer law enforcement is inundated with complaints from this land owner over trash, parking, noisy floaters, etc.   

Haler has proposed a shotgun blast type solution to a problem requiring surgical precision.  Undoubtedly this problem is not unique to this one access point and is an issue statewide, but his solution affects all statewide public waterway access across public lands.   

I emailed my district legislators (including Haler), and posted this infamy on Washington Bloodydecks as well.  Spread the word. 

Don't get me wrong, it's a terrible proposal, but having professionally lobbied state government in Illinois for years one learns to identify a legislator's meaningless gesture to his/her constituent, and this appears to be exactly that for a few reasons:
1. There's only one sponsor (Haler himself), and Haler's had plenty of time - since well before it was initially filed almost a month ago - to get his colleagues to sign on in support;
2. The bill is rather roughly written, with no definition of "adequate parking" or guideline for budgeting resources for enforcement or statement of financial impact upon the state, among other lacking areas, and;
3. The proposal is patently ridiculous in its very nature.

It's a shitty proposal, and it's always a good idea to reach out to your elected officials to voice your concern and interest on a matter for a number of reasons (a reminder that you and others like you exist, know who they are, participate in civic society and V-O-T-E), even if the bill at question has nearly no likelihood of passing.

Hell, I can pretty much guarantee you that Haler himself has no misgivings about its chances of becoming law, but he can go back to his constituents saying that he "did something." Even better for his local cred, he can say he "fought those damn bureaucrats!" since several state executive departments testified in opposition to the bill at its most recent hearing. And btw, if you've got several state departments in opposition, that means you've got their boss - the governor - in opposition too. Those are some big and powerful stakeholders that will continue to oppose the bill. And in the other corner, you've got Haler by his lonesome.

Remember, any legislator can file a bill proposing any damn thing they want, but until it becomes law (and a teeny-tiny proportion of those that actually have legs DO), it's just a piece of paper.

Don't get me wrong, it's a terrible proposal, but having professionally lobbied state government in Illinois for years one learns to identify a legislator's meaningless gesture to his/her constituent, and this appears to be exactly that for a few reasons:
1. There's only one sponsor (Haler himself), and Haler's had plenty of time - since well before it was initially filed almost a month ago - to get his colleagues to sign on in support;
2. The bill is rather roughly written, with no definition of "adequate parking" or guideline for budgeting resources for enforcement or statement of financial impact upon the state, among other lacking areas, and;
3. The proposal is patently ridiculous in its very nature.

It's a shitty proposal, and it's always a good idea to reach out to your elected officials to voice your concern and interest on a matter for a number of reasons (a reminder that you and others like you exist, know who they are, participate in civic society and V-O-T-E), even if the bill at question has nearly no likelihood of passing.

Hell, I can pretty much guarantee you that Haler himself has no misgivings about its chances of becoming law, but he can go back to his constituents saying that he "did something." Even better for his local cred, he can say he "fought those damn bureaucrats!" since several state executive departments testified in opposition to the bill at its most recent hearing. And btw, if you've got several state departments in opposition, that means you've got their boss - the governor - in opposition too. Those are some big and powerful stakeholders that will continue to oppose the bill. And in the other corner, you've got Haler by his lonesome.

Remember, any legislator can file a bill proposing any damn thing they want, but until it becomes law (and a teeny-tiny proportion of those that actually have legs DO), it's just a piece of paper.

And our squawks are meant to keep it as 'just a piece of paper' 

True, and a legislator doesn't have to be a listed sponsor to vote "yea" on a bill when it comes up for roll call. I'm just speaking from my past professional experience. It can be helpful to look at proposed legislation through the proper lens to ID which have a chance of moving forward, and which do not. 

Maybe you should look into lobbying for outdoor sportsman David! I'd donate to that cause.

Hell, you could pay me in tackle.

I've been looking to do just that since I moved here last year.

Who has the time and brain power to come up with such a stupid, unenforceable pile of crap? What kind of person sits around and thinks that this is a good idea? WHY?!! I hate people that come up with shite like this. Now my blood is boiling on a Monday morning as I type this...