Wisconsin Cap/Step News! Read Below

[snobuilder]

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:

1Section 1. 350.12 (3j) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

2 350.12 (3j) (a) 2. Except as provided in par. (d), no No person who is the owner
3of a snowmobile may operate, or give permission for another person to operate, a
4snowmobile on a public snowmobile corridor in this state unless a trail use sticker
5issued under this subsection is displayed on the snowmobile.

6Section
2. 350.12 (3j) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 350.12 (3j) (b) 2. and 7amended to read:

8 350.12 (3j) (b) 2. The fee for a trail use sticker issued for a snowmobile that is
9exempt from registration under sub. (2) (b) or (bn) is $34.25 $44.25. A trail use
10sticker issued for such a snowmobile may be issued only by the department and
11persons appointed by the department and expires on June 30 of each year.

12Section 3. 350.12 (3j) (b) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

13 350.12 (3j) (b) 1. In this paragraph, "snowmobile club" means an association
14organized in this state the members of which are members of the Association of

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1Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs and that meets at least 3 times per year, that has at
2least 10 members, and that promotes responsible snowmobiling.

3Section 4. 350.12 (3j) (b) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

4 350.12 (3j) (b) 3. Except as provided in subd. 5., the fee for a trail use sticker
5issued for a snowmobile that is registered under sub. (3) and that is owned by a
6person who is a member of a snowmobile club is $14.25.

7Section 5. 350.12 (3j) (b) 4. of the statutes is created to read:

8 350.12 (3j) (b) 4. Except as provided in subd. 5., the fee for a trail use sticker
9issued for a snowmobile that is registered under sub. (3) and that is owned by a
10person who is not a member of a snowmobile club is $34.25.

11Section 6. 350.12 (3j) (b) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

12 350.12 (3j) (b) 5. There is no fee for a trail use sticker issued for a snowmobile
13that is registered under sub. (3) (b) and that has a model year that is at least 25 years
14earlier than the year in which the trail use sticker is issued.

15Section 7. 350.12 (3j) (bg) of the statutes is created to read:

16 350.12 (3j) (bg) A trail use sticker issued for a snowmobile for which a fee is
17charged under this subsection may be issued only by the department and persons
18appointed by the department and expires on June 30 of each year.

19Section 8. 350.12 (3j) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

20
350.12 (3j) (d) A snowmobile that is registered under this section or that is 21exempt from registration under sub. (2) (a) or (d) is exempt from having a trail use
22sticker displayed under par. (a).

23Section 9. 350.12 (3j) (e) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

24 350.12 (3j) (e) 2. Any person, including the department, who issues a trail use
25sticker shall collect in addition to the fee under par. (b) 2., 3., or 4. an issuing fee of

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175 cents. The agent may retain 50 cents of the issuing fee to compensate the agent
2for the agent's services in issuing the sticker.

3Section
10. 350.12 (4) (bg) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 350.12 (4) (bg) 2. 4a. and amended to read:

5 350.12 (4) (bg) 2. a. For fiscal year years 2011-12, and for each fiscal year
6thereafter through 2015-16, the department shall calculate an amount equal to the
7number of trail use stickers issued under sub. (3j) in the previous fiscal year
8multiplied by $32 and shall credit this amount to the appropriation account under
9s. 20.370 (5) (cw). From the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (5) (cw), the
10department shall make payments to the department or a county for the purposes
11specified in par. (b). The department shall make payments under par. (bm) for trail
12maintenance costs that were incurred in the previous fiscal year and that exceed the
13maximum specified under par. (b) 1. before making payments for any of the other
14purposes specified in par. (b).

15Section 11. 350.12 (4) (bg) 2. b. of the statutes is created to read:

16 350.12 (4) (bg) 2. b. For fiscal year 2016-17, and for each fiscal year thereafter,
17the department shall calculate an amount equal to the number of trail use stickers
18issued under sub. (3j) in the previous fiscal year to owners of snowmobiles that are
19exempt from registration under sub. (2) multiplied by $44.25 and shall credit this
20amount to the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (5) (cw). From the
21appropriation account under s. 20.370 (5) (cw), the department shall make payments
22to the department or a county for the purposes specified in par. (b). The department
23shall make payments under par. (bm) for trail maintenance costs that were incurred
24in the previous fiscal year and that exceed the maximum specified under par. (b) 1.
25before making payments for any of the other purposes specified in par. (b).


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1Section 12. Effective date.

2 (1) This act takes effect on July 1, 2015.

3

 

[nhra1000]

I don't agree with it...guess I will have to decide if I register my sleds or take the chance with out.

 

[Hoosier]

What does it take to form a snowmobile club in Wisconsin? I don't ride in any one particular area, but I'd consider some kind of advocacy club formed by some of the wiser people on this site (you know who you are). I am a member of the BRC and MSA, but nothing yet in Wiscy.

 

[jr37]

I don't agree with it...guess I will have to decide if I register my sleds or take the chance with out.

The only ones you will hurt by not registering your sleds are the CLUBS. The clubs are the ones that need the money. They do ALL the work and have not had a raise in years. I hope you take into considerartion all the work done by club volunteers before you decide to not register your sleds.

- - - Updated - - -

What does it take to form a snowmobile club in Wisconsin? I don't ride in any one particular area, but I'd consider some kind of advocacy club formed by some of the wiser people on this site (you know who you are). I am a member of the BRC and MSA, but nothing yet in Wiscy.

This is something that I will be looking into this summer. I am considering starting a Vintage club here in central WI. Just a "social" club. Maybe a fundraiser to help support a local club, but mainly just to have fun.

 

[garyl62]

What does it take to form a snowmobile club in Wisconsin? I don't ride in any one particular area, but I'd consider some kind of advocacy club formed by some of the wiser people on this site (you know who you are). I am a member of the BRC and MSA, but nothing yet in Wiscy.

This is something that I will be looking into this summer. I am considering starting a Vintage club here in central WI. Just a "social" club. Maybe a fundraiser to help support a local club, but mainly just to have fun.

This is a great idea. I would be happy to join a club with the idea of being a social club that could help support a different club every year with either some fund raising, or trail brushing. Here is a quote from the bill snobuilder posted


13 350.12 (3j) (b) 1. In this paragraph, "snowmobile club" means an association
14organized in this state the members of which are members of the Association of

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1Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs and that meets at least 3 times per year, that has at
2least 10 members, and that promotes responsible snowmobiling.

I think we could figure something out and get enough members to join. I'll nominate JR37 for president, and Hoosier for vice president, is there a second?

 

[rocky367]

To me a lot of this just feels like a power play by the AWSC, I know of at least one club that isn't an AWSC club and this will force them to join up with them. The other thing is I feel this just won't fix the issues all it does is throw money at a problem the way the state and clubs operate. Oh, well.. I did my part to say my part and it didn't get taken in so I will have to abide with the new rules and hope that in 4 years it is either working or not and if not I can say see.. but I'm sure they will find ways to make it so that it shows as working.

 

[sleddawg007]

I think that the clubs will need to lobby to the AWSC for lower rates. If the data is true that there are 200,000 registrations and we say that there are 2-3 sleds per owner, and that 10% of sled owners are AWSC members, then the AWSC should have 50,000 in additional members. I would think that the AWSC would not need $10 per member to run their operations. Granted they have to devise better programing to handle the volume and the verification process. Dues should be reduced! Let the money stay with the local club to help pay for costs of grooming!

 

[chop]

This may increase the number of club members but I dont think its a guarantee that it will generate more money. I for one have 3 sleds currently registered. 1 for me and 1 for my girlfriend with a backup incase something breaks. This year I rode quite a bit but my girlfriend didnt make it out once. So I really only needed 1 sled registered. I guess what Im saying is that I for one will only be buying a trail pass if I ride. So in reality even if I keep registration on all my sleds I will only buy a trail pass if needed. Which would take the roughly $45 a year I spend currently on reg and make it $40 between the reg and trail pass.

Another thing I was wondering. Do rental sleds have a higher reg cost? Or is there a per rental paid to the state? Just wondering because I saw quite a few rentals out on my last trip(like half the sleds I saw)

 

[whitedust]

Well now I have to make up my mind what to do?? The local WI club is ultra conservative & I rarely use those trails mostly ride unplowed FRs in the area to UPMI? Boiling it down to useage I ride Iron County MI trails the most but Cap Step could care less about MI Snomo Clubs. Right now I'm thinking of cutting Madison a check & being done with it. I'm NOT at all sure WI snomo clubs really want a hugh amount of new members coming in & having a voice with the old guard. Not all WI snomo clubs but there will be a backlash from older members of what where & how things are managed. Anyone that thinks this won't happen has their heads where the sun don't shine. lol

 

[xsledder]

Well now I have to make up my mind what to do?? The local WI club is ultra conservative & I rarely use those trails mostly ride unplowed FRs in the area to UPMI? Boiling it down to useage I ride Iron County MI trails the most but Cap Step could care less about MI Snomo Clubs. Right now I'm thinking of cutting Madison a check & being done with it. I'm NOT at all sure WI snomo clubs really want a hugh amount of new members coming in & having a voice with the old guard. Not all WI snomo clubs but there will be a backlash from older members of what where & how things are managed. Anyone that thinks this won't happen has their heads where the sun don't shine. lol

I hope I'm following your post correctly, are you saying they don't like to change?

 

[whitedust]

I hope I'm following your post correctly, are you saying they don't like to change?

A bud & I tried to get infront of Cap Step this season & join a snomo club so we emailed a brief statement of the type of riding we do & we are looking for a club of like minded people & we would very much like to help with brushing or whatever. UPMI clubs were very warm & welcoming local WI clubs not so much told us don't join here we would never ride 250 miles a day no one in this club like that look elsewhere... so we did. lol. I think the Cap Step setting sun is all about Clubs getting their act together & some will others not so much when looking at the big statewide picture. If new members show up at meetings & are not received well by old guard they will be gone in a New York nanosecond. This actually happend to us in December ...true story. I'm not at all sure Cap Step will bring in new members to clubs....sad but true..... Clubs saying they want new blood & accepting new blood with open arms are 2 different things.

 

[sleddawg007]

There are members in our club that hardly ever ride, yet they do all the work for fundraising, putting on landowners dinners, volunteer to keep the books etc. These people are the founders and are not always set in their ways, so don't assume they are. They just can't go out and groom and brush and maintain equipment. This takes younger people. We need more people to share the load. You want grooming done, but you have to find enough people to do it at the drop of the hat when it snows. Clubs continue to get smaller and need the help. There are so many sledders that just assume the trails will show up. Someday they won't as the average age of the club member increases. Why not help out putting in the trail or grooming so everybody can get a chance to ride....not just up north, but here at home. Not everybody can go north every weekend.

 

[harski]

A bud & I tried to get infront of Cap Step this season & join a snomo club so we emailed a brief statement of the type of riding we do & we are looking for a club of like minded people & we would very much like to help with brushing or whatever. UPMI clubs were very warm & welcoming local WI clubs not so much told us don't join here we would never ride 250 miles a day no one in this club like that look elsewhere... so we did. lol. I think the Cap Step setting sun is all about Clubs getting their act together & some will others not so much when looking at the big statewide picture. If new members show up at meetings & are not received well by old guard they will be gone in a New York nanosecond. This actually happend to us in December ...true story. I'm not at all sure Cap Step will bring in new members to clubs....sad but true..... Clubs saying they want new blood & accepting new blood with open arms are 2 different things.

Whitedust, your last two posts are dead on and that's all I have to say! I'm not sure if clubs will be administratively responsible with this bill but if so, it will definitely pose some challenges on both sides for sure! The welcoming and organized clubs will succeed and should gain some great members.

Harski

 

[Hoosier]

There are quite a few people that ride that area where whitedust close to the Wis/Mi border, where you end up riding quite a bit on both sides. Combined with the Michigan trail pass increase a couple years ago and now Wisconsin's increases, they are going to drop a decent amount of money for trail passes for a trip. I'm not saying it's not fair, but it is tough for those folks. I understand the Wisconsin clubs need more funding for riding, but it seems like there should be some mechanism based on the sales tax of gas purchased to help with this. For a winter like this one, there probably has been a lot more grooming going on, but I assume snowmobilers are buying a lot more gas also, plus room nights, food, drinks, parts, etc.

If you're going up to Eagle River to ride for a week, you'll end up buying a $35 Wis pass and a $45 Michigan pass. The $140 weekly pass in Ontario isn't sounding quite as bad all of a sudden, and with virtually no traffic.

 

[rocky367]

Whitedust is spot on, the club I was in had older folks and were resistant to change. Have had conversations with others and it is the same way for them in their clubs, maybe the influx of new members will help change that. Locally we have 4 clubs all within 7 miles of each other and at least two should combine but now with this new system I don't see that happening.

 

[r/l groomer]

Some friends of mine were riding in th UP and when the bought there passes they were told they will be going up to 55.00 next year, is this true?

 

[xsledder]

A bud & I tried to get infront of Cap Step this season & join a snomo club so we emailed a brief statement of the type of riding we do & we are looking for a club of like minded people & we would very much like to help with brushing or whatever. UPMI clubs were very warm & welcoming local WI clubs not so much told us don't join here we would never ride 250 miles a day no one in this club like that look elsewhere... so we did. lol. I think the Cap Step setting sun is all about Clubs getting their act together & some will others not so much when looking at the big statewide picture. If new members show up at meetings & are not received well by old guard they will be gone in a New York nanosecond. This actually happend to us in December ...true story. I'm not at all sure Cap Step will bring in new members to clubs....sad but true..... Clubs saying they want new blood & accepting new blood with open arms are 2 different things.

Yep, you're right. That is how I felt the first few meetings I went to. Then I joined the club another time and started out Sec. Now I'm the President and I'm going to change a few things. Some if the old guard will probably disappear. I don't know the old members, just the newer members.

 

[Deleted member 10829]

Yep, you're right. That is how I felt the first few meetings I went to. Then I joined the club another time and started out Sec. Now I'm the President and I'm going to change a few things. Some if the old guard will probably disappear. I don't know the old members, just the newer members.

Glad to see you had the guts to keep coming to meetings and get involved, really involved! Hopefully there are more like you out there. I agree the old guard can be slow to let go of control of things, but they better start welcoming new members with open arms!

 

[Hoosier]

Some friends of mine were riding in th UP and when the bought there passes they were told they will be going up to 55.00 next year, is this true?

They were supposed to stay at $45 for 5 years, then just increase annually at a small rate (i.e., inflation). When the big jump happened, they were supposed to be putting money into buying permanent easements, which is a great use of funds, but I think the government (Gov Jenny) got in the way. I'm not sure if that has been fixed yet with the new governor.