CA Registered Boat Owners -- $16 Mussell Fee

[Lee Coller]

If you have a boat registered in California that is only used in "Marine" waters (that is, the Ocean) watch out on your registration renewal. The DMV has added a $16 Quagga and zebra mussel infestation prevention fee. You are exempt if your vessel is used exclusively in marine waters, but you have to explicitly opt out. Make sure you check the "Used Only in Marine Waters" box and subtract $16 from the amount due.

You can opt out renewing online as well.

 

[StinkBug]

Thank you for mentioning this. I just got the registration on both my boats and noticed the jump in fees. Hadn't looked close enough for this though. I assume "marine" includes bays connected directly to the ocean like Mission Bay and San Diego correct?

Pretty sure it's just the lakes and reservoirs that they are trying to control the mussels in.

 

[Brian D]

These are freshwater creatures. But leave it to CA to impose this fee on all boaters. I mean, we are a cash-cow to them.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_2401-2450/ab_2443_bill_20120923_chaptered.html

 

[windward54]

These are freshwater creatures. But leave it to CA to impose this fee on all boaters. I mean, we are a cash-cow to them.

The DMV does allow you to opt out of paying the $16 fee. If you do, you won't get a "special" sticker for your watercraft, and won't be allowed to operate on inland waters. Since I use my dink strictly in marine waters, I opted out. When I checked the box during my on-line registration renewal, the fee was deducted.

 

[Johnb]

I live in Livermore CA and Dell Valle reservoir is near by. This and others like it are a wonderful resource.

For some years now we have been having inspections before taking boats (kayak, canoe, sailing dinghy) onto the lake and it is obviously expensive to keep somebody there to do that. I will happily pay $8 per year per boat to keep these waters usable.

 

[Rick D]

If I Trusted Where The $$ Went...

I live in Livermore CA and Dell Valle reservoir is near by. This and others like it are a wonderful resource.

For some years now we have been having inspections before taking boats (kayak, canoe, sailing dinghy) onto the lake and it is obviously expensive to keep somebody there to do that. I will happily pay $8 per year per boat to keep these waters usable.

Yea, I live in an inland mountain lake area too, and I agree there is a cost associated with inspections et al. Having said that, folding in the Department of Boating and Waterways into Parks, one of which was self-supporting and the other poor and begging for funding simply invites misappropriation. If I felt better about the use of the funding, well... I guess I would feel better about the fee.