New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

[John_S]

I received two renewal registrations in the mail today. For some reason all of my boats are on the same three year cycle. It looks like this went into effect last year and the surcharge is for "boating safety". Does anyone know how that money is being spent? boater safety classes, patrols, new pfd law, etc? or can I assume they transfer money out of it to the general fund like they do for snowmobile registrations.

 

[John_S]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

Yea, I know, faster than any of us can earn and pay the taxes.

Anyway, I did send a question to the DMV database. I would hope there was some structure around it like there is for snowmobile registration. I hadn't heard about it until I received it in the mail. ie maybe boater clubs can get reimbursed for safety programs, etc

 

[bowman316]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

lucky you, you only have to register every 3 years.
we have to do it every other year here. and there is a 5% excise tax on it. 5% the boat value

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

We just had an addition to the Oregon registration fee as well. Ours is for an invasive species prevention program. From what I've heard, some states allready have inspection and washdown stations on the state ramps. I don't have any problem at all with the slight fee if it'll help.

 

[82mustang]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

I love one time fee at time of initial registration here. No renewals (as of yet). Didn't mean to rub it in. Than again, washdown station?? We don't have those, atleast that I've heard of, but I'm a good distance from any salt.

5% a year of boat value, OUCH. I'm assuming theres a way to fake the value on that.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

Boat registration, trailer registration and trailer inspection all annual here I wish we had a longer option

 

[JimS123]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

Does anyone know how that money is being spent?

The state is broke. They now want to charge a tax for soda pop, cigarettes so the Indians can't sell tax free, etc. ,etc. The money is going to pay the state's bills. Simple as that. They got a surcharge thru easy. It applies to all motor vehicles, not just boats.

The reason is that they keep upping medicare for the poor people, so we working stiffs have to contribute more. And with all of those out of work, somebody has to pay more.

 

[John_S]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

The state is broke. They now want to charge a tax for soda pop, cigarettes so the Indians can't sell tax free, etc. ,etc. The money is going to pay the state's bills. Simple as that. They got a surcharge thru easy. It applies to all motor vehicles, not just boats.

The reason is that they keep upping medicare for the poor people, so we working stiffs have to contribute more. And with all of those out of work, somebody has to pay more.

The amount with surcharge is still under $60 for three years for my 20' bowrider. Less for my 14' fishing rigs. I am not whinning about the cost, just trying to find out how the safe boating surcharge is spent. I have also requested what agency has control over the funds.

 

[diesel5599]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

lucky you, you only have to register every 3 years.
we have to do it every other year here. and there is a 5% excise tax on it. 5% the boat value

Now that would REALLY suck. Here FL registration for boat and trailer is annual but only about $25 - $30.

The one thing I don't like here is that recently all government maintained boat ramps are starting to charge $5 to use the ramp. On top of that, they have removed most if not all of the engine flush and boat wash down facilities, I guess water costs were eating into their profits.

Oh and whatever you do, don't park anywhere except between the lines. Park on the grass and you get a $25 parking ticket for your trailer, and a separate $25 ticket for your truck. That part is a county thing. One county over I think its $75 for the same offenses.

 

[JimS123]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

Oh sorry, I didn't mean to imply you were whining. We're all a little PO'd, as we should be. The state keeps spending and spending with no regard to fiscal responsibility. Nevertheless, we really can't complain too much in regards to boating because we arguably have the best boating facilities in the country and the best waters to use our boats. After having traveled across this fine country and seeing where others call "boating", I have come to appreciate NY even more.

Now, to answer your question, It goes to teach people how to be better boaters by providing free classroom training.....free inspections of your watercraft.....paying hundreds of boaters to go out the water to help with tows, proividse free gas to stranged boaters, yada yada yada. Also, in case you didn't know, our state lottery goes 100% into the public school system to support education, jusat as they promised 30 years ago when the lottery was started.

Ahem.....(TIC)

Please don't quote my sarcasm....you can be sure it goes into the general fund!!!

 

[NYBo]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

....you can be sure it goes into the general fund!!!

That's what I'm thinking.

My trailer registration went WAY up this year (2.5x last year's fee).

 

[JoLin]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

Now, to answer your question, It goes to teach people how to be better boaters by providing free classroom training.....free inspections of your watercraft.....paying hundreds of boaters to go out the water to help with tows, proividse free gas to stranged boaters, yada yada yada. Also, in case you didn't know, our state lottery goes 100% into the public school system to support education, jusat as they promised 30 years ago when the lottery was started.

Ahem.....(TIC)

Please don't quote my sarcasm....you can be sure it goes into the general fund!!!

I was thinking along exactly the same lines. They wrap it up in a lot of "this is why it makes sense" rhetoric, then spend it any way they damn well please. If the various usage taxes were in fact spent the way they're earmarked to be spent, boaters would be eligible for a fuel tax refund. As we all know, that money is allocated to the roadways (ahem).

A fee is a tax is a surcharge is a fee is a tax. As long as they call it a "fee" or a "surcharge", politicians can spin the numbers to prove that they haven't raised taxes to pay for their fiscal irresponsibility...

 

[John_S]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

I'm interested in finding out who controls the money and what the requirements are. ie can a lake association get money to put signs at ramps about safe boating principles, no-wake zone, and other friendly reminders of the rules.

 

[Bondo]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

or can I assume they transfer money out of it to the general fund like they do for snowmobile registrations.

Ayuh,... Assume,..?? 'ell, you can Count on it...

The Dysfunctional government here in NY has Robbed every single Dedicated Fund they Ever created....
The Dedicated highway Fund of the 50s,...
Swept into the General Fund,.. That's Why we have to pass Bond Acts to pay for road repairs...

The Cost of the NYS Thruway was paid off Years ago,... Did the tollbooths come down,..??
Nope, the Thruway Authority has to "Buy" state asset's every couple of years to pay into,+ "Balance" the General Fund...
More Illegal borrowing by our Dysfunctional government....

A few years ago, ATV registrations Tripled,+ we were told this was for Trail Devolopment...
Before the ink was even dry on the bill, it was swept into the General Fund to pay down the deficit...
NO trails have been devoloped...

I'll give Patterson abit of credit though,... Atleast he uses the "C" word,...
Even if it Don't mean the same in NYS...
A "Cut" in funding in NYS merely means that dept. won't be getting ALL of their projected Increase in funding....

I'm interested in finding out who controls the money and what the requirements are. ie can a lake association get money to put signs at ramps about safe boating principles, no-wake zone, and other friendly reminders of the rules.

That's done by your local legislator,....
They intro a bill,+ maybe you'll see the Pork,... Maybe Not...

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

According to the New York State Boater's Guide, bottom of page 12: "The surcharge goes to a dedicated fund which supports improvements of vessel access and transient marina facilities. Seventy-five percent of all registration fees collected from boaters, are returned to the counties to support local marine law enforcement efforts."

The cash is collected by the DMV and the funds are given to NYS Parks.

Strange: The renewal notice I received by mail from the DMV wanted $93.75 for the registration. Procrastinator that I am, I waited too long to renew by mail and instead visited a DMV office. They charged me $75.

 

[JimS123]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

Strange: The renewal notice I received by mail from the DMV wanted $93.75 for the registration. Procrastinator that I am, I waited too long to renew by mail and instead visited a DMV office. They charged me $75.

All renewals are prorated. For example if you renew a 12 month trailer reg. in July, you only pay half.

 

[Aqualift]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

Our state just implemented a 1.5 million dollar emergency legislation bill for mussels a few weeks ago. Another decal and $10 must be forked over for temporary summer workers and steam power washers. Enough is enough. What's next, a $20 decal for boaters that use older 2 stroke outboards that pollute?

 

[dingbat]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

lucky you, you only have to register every 3 years.
we have to do it every other year here. and there is a 5% excise tax on it. 5% the boat value

The 5% excise tax is only applied the first time you register the boat in the State. After that you pay $24 every two years.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

All renewals are prorated. For example if you renew a 12 month trailer reg. in July, you only pay half.

Not in this case. The previous owner had let the boat reg expire, so I had to pay for the full three years. The difference is the $18.75 surcharge that the local office didn't collect.

 

[scutly]

Re: New York State Boat Registration Surcharge

All renewals are prorated. For example if you renew a 12 month trailer reg. in July, you only pay half.

its only prorated if you go to a DMV office to register your trailer. its not prorated if you register by mail or internet.