Trail permit price hike passes Michigan Senate

Senate Bill 1490, passed yesterday by the Michigan State Senate, will raise the price of snowmobile trail permits from $25 to $35 for the 2009-2010 season.

The annual trail permit cost will then rise another $10 to $45 for the 2011-2012 snowmobile season.

This is on top of other increases contained in the bill, which now awaits the signature of Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Michigan State Senator Jason Allen issued the following news release concerning the bill:

************************* Michigan State Senate approves plan to help snowmobile trail maintenance

LANSING – A bipartisan plan that will help maintain and improve the grooming operations on the state’s snowmobile trails was approved by the [Michigan State] Senate today and sent to the governor, said Senator Jason Allen, chair of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, who sponsored a key bill in the package.

Allen said the Michigan Snowmobile Association believes its members will be unable to continue grooming operations unless there is an increase in the trail permit fee.

Effective July 1, 2009, the current snowmobile registration fee will go from $22 to $30 and the fine for operating a snowmobile without a registration will rise from $50 to $200.

Senate Bill 1489 specifies that $5 from each registration fee may be used to purchase lands, lease lands, and secure easements to expand trails.

Under Senate Bill 1490, sponsored by Senator James Barcia, D-Bay City, $8 from each registration will be deposited in a new snowmobile trail easement account.

“Snowmobiling is an integral part of tourism in northern Michigan and throughout the state,” Allen said. “By protecting the trails we have, and expanding them for the future, we are making a wise investment. Maintaining these trails properly will attract visitors and enhance the safety of everyone using them.”

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