Wisconsin Trail Pass - thumbs down

[Banks93]

Have one or two of all of them, and never had an issue with applying stickers. Under any rules... since the early 70's. Best wipe the $hidt off your hole.

You seriously have no idea what you are talking about so go back to watching your game shows and soaps.

It took 4 weeks before my friend received his registration and trail pass. Mine only took two weeks because I bugged the dealership and got my vin number before I even picked up my sled and ordered them. My other two sleds had them on already.

It has nothing to do with me putting on stickers. It is the DNR being slow to print and mail the stickers instead of just letting the gas stations and dealerships print them and apply them. It is a pure money grab. If the AWSC or DNR wanted more money from me fine but you don't need to give them a reason to stop everyone who doesn't have them because they can't do their job.

Especially when I see them on brand new 800 ski doo etecs that I know my tax dollars bought for them.

It took 8 weeks to get out the Side by Side Registration this fall.

Our group has been stopped 4 times this year.

 

[xcr440]

Have one or two of all of them, and never had an issue with applying stickers. Under any rules... since the early 70's. Best wipe the $hidt off your hole.

So you are PERFECT.

Is that kind of comment really necessary? Seriously. What is wrong with people these days.

 

[Highflyer]

You seriously have no idea what you are talking about so go back to watching your game shows and soaps.

It took 4 weeks before my friend received his registration and trail pass. Mine only took two weeks because I bugged the dealership and got my vin number before I even picked up my sled and ordered them. My other two sleds had them on already.

It has nothing to do with me putting on stickers. It is the DNR being slow to print and mail the stickers instead of just letting the gas stations and dealerships print them and apply them. It is a pure money grab. If the AWSC or DNR wanted more money from me fine but you don't need to give them a reason to stop everyone who doesn't have them because they can't do their job.

Especially when I see them on brand new 800 ski doo etecs that I know my tax dollars bought for them.

It took 8 weeks to get out the Side by Side Registration this fall.

Our group has been stopped 4 times this year.

My group bought three new sleds this year (all in Dec/Jan) and bought 5 trail passes. All stickers came within a week.

I was also stopped by the Recreational County officer this last week for blowing through a stop sign. He checked all of our stickers and did not give any trouble to my buddy who bought his sled up there on that trip. He showed the officer pictures of the email showing the purchase of both Registration and trail pass in Wisconsin. No issues whatsoever.

Now that everyone knows you need to by ahead of time or you won't have the sticker next year shouldn't be a problem. The only problem seems to be for those afraid of seeing the law enforcement......more about being paranoid then truly being a problem.

 

[Deleted member 10829]

Banks93 and chiefcheese, that's enough. Have a respectful discussion, but cut out the rest or I will.

 

[wisyooper1]

I had no clue.....

Except you won't have an official trail pass sticker on your sled. That gives the LEO and DNR cause to stop you. I think that along with as ezra posted....a waste of time and resources in administering the new system, is what is bugging folks.
AND they ARE checking for stickers everywhere...in 350 miles this season, I was already stopped once and have rolled by 3 different places where sheriffs were watching sled traffic. The time I was pulled over by 2 sheriffs on sleds it was at night and was told theycouldn't see my registration and TP.....I was in full compliance sticker wise....even made me pull out the wallet and show reg. cards.

We definitely stepped backwards in WI

I had no idea you couldn't buy a trail pass at a gas station, and I am in Wisconsin! Thought it was just like MI - fill up the tank and buy your pass. I don't want the hassle of getting stopped to show my paperwork for the trail pass. Already went through that when I registered a vintage sled in WI. Registered sled and took it out to properly break in an engine rebuild. Saw two po-pos on 4-wheelers. I drove over to them and showed the paperwork, simply because I knew they would stop me. Despite my politeness of just offering up the registration paper work, they gave me a hard time for no sticker! I told them I just registered the sled on-line! Paperwork dated and stamped just a few hours earlier! Ran me through the gauntlet..."you been drinking?".....um, no! Really? I drove up to them!

I don't get out on the sleds much, but I am skipping WI and will just head back to my home town up da yoop way.....get my trail pass at Holiday in Calumet.....or maybe I'll just skip the MI trail pass too and ride the Dreamland trail and the old Bootjack trails.....giddy up.

 

[snobuilder]

Cap .....Step backwards

 

[Skylar]

I ran for two weeks without a sticker---just had the paper in my billfold. Never got stopped---what's the problem?

BOOM! There it is, the best response in this thread.

 

[sweeperguy]

BOOM! There it is, the best response in this thread.

Just a passing observation:

In the past I've seen many posts in many threads bitchin' about needin' ta have too many stickers (registration plus trail passes from several states) on yer sleds. Now y'all are bitchin' about Wisconsin not giving you a sticker?

Personally I think frnash, had the best response in this thread.
SORRY Skylar��

 

[snobuilder]

BOOM! There it is, the best response in this thread.

HUH?...OK next time you send in, YES...>PAY$$<.... for your auto/truck registration on time and in compliance, I hope it comes a month late and you needlessly get pulled over at least once.

For all of you that say "if you aren't doing anything wrong, why worry about getting stopped"....instead of having current stickers on your vehicle, why not have everyone ride/drive on a receipt in your wallet all the time?????.......LMAO......you'd all be pissin yur pants and moanin for justice....so STHU, you know you are wrong.

Cap Step backwards.

 

[ezra]

well WI is a sold sticker not like MI so no anti void when I pull off every yr. and why would a guy who decides with his buddy 1 night to roll to WI to ride for the weekend for 1 time that season because they got a storm plan for said storm 3 mo in advance? that is a stupid argument

 

[jr37]

The (Cap/Step) Trail Pass has done what it was intended to do. There is more money in the snowmobile program, which is much needed. Club membership has increased incredibly.

The whole issue of riding with a piece of paper, if you are not a club member or are an out of state rider, is a DNR issue and not something done by the AWSC. This is a direct result of the DNRs Go Wild program. Hunting and fishing licenses have also changed. To continue to bash the Trail Pass and the AWSC because of this is wrong. It is well know by everone in the AWSC that people would like to be able to stop at the local gas station and print their sticker, like in the past. Coming here and bashing the AWSC for this will accomplish nothing. The DNR is aware of people being annoyed by the way it works now. But, only time will tell if you be able to print on the spot again. But don't hold your breath.

 

[wisyooper1]

Or, the Police Chief could focus on "REAL" crime such as hard-core drugs like Meth etc. or Robberies that seem to be creeping from Chicago and Milwaukee northward. These are all problems that are reoccurring as far north as Appleton and Green Bay, WI and even Marinette, WI and need to be addresses ASAP.
I respect the Police and carry a "blue band" but we must prioritize our resources.

Bear

Well stated my friend!! I couldn't agree more!

 

[longtrack]

We are finally getting a $70,000.00 bridge in our area over a bad swamp that we have been trying to get for years. I can't say for sure why, but the extra money must have something to do with it. It will save me lots of grooming time before the swamps freeze.

We are getting a Badly needed Bridge also. I was stuck in there last week.

I have not had any problems getting my Stickers. Poor planning (last minute) is the biggest problem. Buy them in fall it works great.

 

[1fujifilm]

Non-resident last year could still buy them over the counter and get sticker. Now we can't.

Seems pretty dumb to jus get a paper saying it's bought and will be sent. So DNR gonna stop all of us to check??
Why should we buy them ahead if we don't know if there will be snow for your planned trip?
Why should I have to give out my Soc. Sec. # on line to buy a pass, Don't want to put that on line.
Do I have to give my Soc Sec # to some person in a hardware store that I don't know to get the paper?? Don't want to do that.

Heck jus get the stickers from the local group that went last week, the stickers should be in their mailbox by now, heck they don't need them anymore??

Guess it was too easy to jus buy them when we get there and know there is snow and we need
them
Wisconsin Snowmobile Association and DNR , Why did they do this??

Michigan here we come

Whoever the group was implementing this "project" could have done better. When you begin planning for a project you consider similar best of breed products and budget; if you don't have the capability for either you may not want to proceed. In this case, printers for local businesses should have been considered since you need them to match the convenience of neighboring States.
I could go on for a while but we can agree there was little value to rolling this out as the same money was likely just moved from this coffer to another with no increase in funds.
Oops, almost forgot the Dealers had to now buy trailer permits and install them as a poorly devised afterthought.

Bear

 

[JimAndros]

Back when I was a dealer & the DNR began the process of allowing dealers to print registration stickers (boat/snow/ATV) we the dealer had to buy the printer. They gave us recommendations for printers & we bought outright from Office Depot, about $250 if I remember right. The DNR gave us blank registration sheets of various colors that we fed into the printers (color was dependent on year of expiration & program told us what color to feed). Presto, out came the stickers & registration card. We made $3 or $4 per registration.

We could also process & print boat titles (boats 16' & over are titled vehicles). There were problems with used boats that may or may not have had a clear title, so the title program was taken away & went back to mailing to DNR for their processing.

Regarding trail passes at the time:
Trail passes were for non residents only & being in a non tourist area, we saw very few. I believe we made .50 cents per pass. I don't remember ever selling one, but maybe I did.

Regarding trail passes now:
As a club member, I have bought thru AWSC in the fall both years & all went well. What happened to the DNR system that was in place to print stickers, I don't know and I can't believe no one from the DNR reads this forum. I would like to see a official response. Maybe there is some type of apology buried in their website somewhere? Did their new process also affect Boat/ATV & snow registrations? Do I fault non-residents, those who live south & other casual riders for not buying early? No I do not. I only live 8 miles to Michigan & have not been there yet, so no trail pass yet. But I know I can stop in Lando & have one in minutes.

 

[old abe]

well WI is a sold sticker not like MI so no anti void when I pull off every yr. and why would a guy who decides with his buddy 1 night to roll to WI to ride for the weekend for 1 time that season because they got a storm plan for said storm 3 mo in advance? that is a stupid argument

Right on ezra. You said it all!!! I would love to be able to plan for Wis. trips in advance, nowhere would I rather go than West Central Wis.. But the weather is just too undependable now days to be able to plan like we used to. When I started riding, we could go to WC Wis and ride when ever we liked. You have to be ready to react on a days notice now. KISS!!!!

 

[snobuilder]

Back when I was a dealer & the DNR began the process of allowing dealers to print registration stickers (boat/snow/ATV) we the dealer had to buy the printer. They gave us recommendations for printers & we bought outright from Office Depot, about $250 if I remember right. The DNR gave us blank registration sheets of various colors that we fed into the printers (color was dependent on year of expiration & program told us what color to feed). Presto, out came the stickers & registration card. We made $3 or $4 per registration.

We could also process & print boat titles (boats 16' & over are titled vehicles). There were problems with used boats that may or may not have had a clear title, so the title program was taken away & went back to mailing to DNR for their processing.

Regarding trail passes at the time:
Trail passes were for non residents only & being in a non tourist area, we saw very few. I believe we made .50 cents per pass. I don't remember ever selling one, but maybe I did.

Regarding trail passes now:
As a club member, I have bought thru AWSC in the fall both years & all went well. What happened to the DNR system that was in place to print stickers, I don't know and I can't believe no one from the DNR reads this forum. I would like to see a official response. Maybe there is some type of apology buried in their website somewhere? Did their new process also affect Boat/ATV & snow registrations? Do I fault non-residents, those who live south & other casual riders for not buying early? No I do not. I only live 8 miles to Michigan & have not been there yet, so no trail pass yet. But I know I can stop in Lando & have one in minutes.

Well said. The folks who hang out here and other sites are hardcore sledders and I guess some think "whats so hard about buying months in advance"? They don't understand that the majority of sleds that are registered in the state are "garage queens" that get ridden only IF the snow flies outside the garage they sit in.....this weeks weather brings that home all too well.
If these home riders start seeing that because the process now works against there casual riding style, that garage queen will just sit and next time around either get sold or simply not registered. I doubt that less registered sleds was one of the goals of Cap/Step but IMO by NOT keeping it simple this is exactly what will happen.


As far as new bridges being funded.....In the 14 years or so previous to Cap Step we had over a dozen or so I can think of (probly many more I am missing) steel railed bridges installed in Forest Co. alone. So calling Cap Step some remarkable success based on seeing a few bridges being built is way premature....in fact the projects built today are probly funded with old system non cap step money....these plans don't get approved overnight.

IMO, it will take an avg. of 5-10 years before any real evidence of how successful or not Cap Step is.

 

[jr37]

I continue to try to post facts, as to try and clear up some information that is of ones opinion, and not factual. I am not here to argue, just trying to share correct information.

It is a fact that there were many more projects funded this year because of the increase in funds generated from the WI Trail Pass. These projects have to be requested from their respective county and reviewed by the WI Snowmobile Rec. Council. It is at their recommendation that these projects are funded. The WI SRC is in charge of where the snowmobile program money is spent. This past summer they had over $2 million more in funds, because of Trail Pass income. Money spent this year on new trail projects in not from pre-CapStep years.

I understand peoples frustration with the way trail passes are handled if you are not a club member. It could be better, no doubt. Hopefully it will improve again some day.

 

[renegade]

Well said. The folks who hang out here and other sites are hardcore sledders and I guess some think "whats so hard about buying months in advance"? They don't understand that the majority of sleds that are registered in the state are "garage queens" that get ridden only IF the snow flies outside the garage they sit in.....this weeks weather brings that home all too well.
If these home riders start seeing that because the process now works against there casual riding style, that garage queen will just sit and next time around either get sold or simply not registered. I doubt that less registered sleds was one of the goals of Cap/Step but IMO by NOT keeping it simple this is exactly what will happen.


As far as new bridges being funded.....In the 14 years or so previous to Cap Step we had over a dozen or so I can think of (probly many more I am missing) steel railed bridges installed in Forest Co. alone. So calling Cap Step some remarkable success based on seeing a few bridges being built is way premature....in fact the projects built today are probly funded with old system non cap step money....these plans don't get approved overnight.

IMO, it will take an avg. of 5-10 years before any real evidence of how successful or not Cap Step is.

Again, this is not a cap step problem. It's a DNR no longer printing stickers problem. And it's a myth club members get trail passes easier. As a club member I need to contact AWSC requesting a trail pass. They, in turn check to make sure that I own the sled I wish to purchase a trail pass for. Then they contact the DNR which prints the pass and sends it out. It's not any faster then non club members passes. It's actually an extra step for club members.

 

[snobuilder]

I continue to try to post facts, as to try and clear up some information that is of ones opinion, and not factual. I am not here to argue, just trying to share correct information.

It is a fact that there were many more projects funded this year because of the increase in funds generated from the WI Trail Pass. These projects have to be requested from their respective county and reviewed by the WI Snowmobile Rec. Council. It is at their recommendation that these projects are funded. The WI SRC is in charge of where the snowmobile program money is spent. This past summer they had over $2 million more in funds, because of Trail Pass income. Money spent this year on new trail projects in not from pre-CapStep years.

I understand peoples frustration with the way trail passes are handled if you are not a club member. It could be better, no doubt. Hopefully it will improve again some day.

Facts need to be backed up with proof, please show where $2,000,000 more in "trail pass income" was realized. And then over what figure are you comparing it to. I hear figures thrown out without ANY back up...and if actual trail income facts are being tossed out nothing less than a CPA would be able to sort out all the facts....anything being spouted at this point is all BS.

I can take you on a one day ride and show you the dozens of added bridges installed prior to cap step, so don't try to make it seem like the system was bankrupt pre Cap Step.


LOL exactly $2,000,000....not $1,790,000, Not $2,009,000, Not $1,787,030, not $2,030,090, not $1,982,680, not $ $1,794,960, not $1,990,450, not $1,890,020, not $2,090,040....LOL ...EXACTLY a cool two million!!!!that is effin remarkable....I'm gonna try and guesstimate my next paltry club treasurer's report to such round figures...