Utah 2023 AIS Program

[cfulton]

Has anyone had any experience with the AIS authorities since the new decal requirements have been in place? Has anyone been checked before launch, after leaving the lake or while on the lake? The board has been real quiet on the subject after the the new decal was implemented on July 1 2023. I'm particularly interested on the South end.
Chuck

 

[Lake Bum]

The program is a failure. Literally nobody even asks about it on the ramps. Anyone that paid that fee, got taken. Just like MOST Government programs!

 

[Inseminator]

got my decal and couldnt get the back off it fell apart saved my paperwork but havent been checked

 

[leardoc]

I did the deed too back in May. Paid the money, got a conformation number. Still no sticker. Been to Stateline a couple of times since and didn't see one printed confirmation, sticker nothing. Scam for sure.

 

[Capt. Ron]

Did it in april and never got a sticker

 

[Jyboat]

I spent several hours at the DNR on North Temple tracking down someone to explain this whole system [mess] to me as I paid $60.00 for my 3 watercrafts back in April. According to the "HMFIC" we won't get stickers this year if your AIS registration was completed before July 1, but will have to take the test again after Jan. 1 2024 and "renew" your AIS registration, pay the $20.00 per watercraft, then you will get your stickers. AIS registrations will run on the calendar year, that is 1/1/2024 to 12/31/2024. For the remainder of this year Keep your paper work handy in the tow vehicle and water craft. I think I understood him. We'll see!

 

[treetop]

I sent mine in a long time ago, and they finally sent me a sticker.
just another way to raise some cash.

 

[cfulton]

Thanks. The question is has anyone been checked for the sticker. If so, where- on the lake or the ramp? What did the check involve? Did anyone not have the documentation (or sticker) and what was the result. Thanks, Chuck

 

[Canyon Gypsy]

Never checked or asked at the North end. I leave the paperwork on the dash. Never got a sticker.

 

[Rivergoer]

We come and go often all year round at the South End only.

The NPS folks at the gates only check for park entrance vehicle and vessel fees/stickers (NPS fees).

The Utah DWR folks at the ramps 1) On The Way In…record incoming vessel registration number, last body of water visited and length of stay. 2) On The Way Out…inspect vessels and install bow tags.

No one on land inspects for Utah AIS stickers or paperwork.

As for on the water, it’s rare to ever encounter rangers, NPS, Coast Guard or other L.E.’s.

Lastly, most of the year…after Labor Day until Memorial Day…gates and ramps are unmanned and wide open. So definitely not an issue nor priority for 8 months out of the year.

 

[Marina Bum]

I found that it's difficult to get my locals sticker too. Personally I'm not thrilled with Park service or Utah on this whole don't move a muscle deal. I pulled my boat one morning at 6:00 am and was told by the Park service employee at the guard shack that the employees from Utah inspections weren't in yet so she wanted to tag my boat and have me check back to be inspected or else. I found that to be burdensome to say the least! It's made me turn to launching and retrieving after hours to avoid interactions with the whole lot of them.

Yes I've taken my tests and I know not to relaunch on another lake until it's thuroughly dry and I'm not even a citizen of Utah. But I find it inconsistent that they are so strident about it during working hours and after hours anything goes. Last year I was detained for over an hour in the heat of the day because one of the inspectors saw an embryo of a muscle on one of my pontoons. I was told that I'd have to drive over to Antelope and pay for a professional decontamination to the tune of $200. and that I'd have to bring a receipt to get off the suspect list. I protested that I store the boat locally and that I don't go anywhere else, I had to talk to some official on the phone but thankfully they relented. They let me go after they talked to tho owner of the storage yard in Page.

So To obtain a locals sticker and skip inspections you've got to apply, wait a few days for a review and then print your results. After that you've got to take the printed results along with your registration and proof of your current lease in a storage yard over to Stateline to get your sticker. It's just not very user friendly, I wish it was all on line, you've got to jump through a few hoops and you have to apply separately for every vessel. I own 4 different watercraft that I use regularly so it's burdensome to a degree, I hate muscles and what happened to our free decontamination's at Wahweap? I haven't seen that manned in years? It seems to me that if everyone was dead serious about not spreading the muscles that thing would be funded , free to boaters and running 12 hours a day.

 

[Rivergoer]

This isn’t a “Local Boater” program thread, but to add to the confusion Utah DWR has a Local Boater program for the North End and Arizona Game and Fish (AZGFD) has a separate Local Boater program for the South End. Furthermore, those two programs are separate from the Utah DWR AIS fee/sticker program.

Therefore…(back to Utah DWR AIS topic)…even though one takes the requisite online Local Boater program courses (Utah or AZ) he/she still must separately complete the online Utah AIS course and pay the fee.

Sufficiently confused? ”I’m from the Government and I’m here to help you.”

 

[Rivergoer]

I found that it's difficult to get my locals sticker too. Personally I'm not thrilled with Park service or Utah on this whole don't move a muscle deal. I pulled my boat one morning at 6:00 am and was told by the Park service employee at the guard shack that the employees from Utah inspections weren't in yet so she wanted to tag my boat and have me check back to be inspected or else. I found that to be burdensome to say the least! It's made me turn to launching and retrieving after hours to avoid interactions with the whole lot of them.

Yes I've taken my tests and I know not to relaunch on another lake until it's thuroughly dry and I'm not even a citizen of Utah. But I find it inconsistent that they are so strident about it during working hours and after hours anything goes. Last year I was detained for over an hour in the heat of the day because one of the inspectors saw an embryo of a muscle on one of my pontoons. I was told that I'd have to drive over to Antelope and pay for a professional decontamination to the tune of $200. and that I'd have to bring a receipt to get off the suspect list. I protested that I store the boat locally and that I don't go anywhere else, I had to talk to some official on the phone but thankfully they relented. They let me go after they talked to tho owner of the storage yard in Page.

So To obtain a locals sticker and skip inspections you've got to apply, wait a few days for a review and then print your results. After that you've got to take the printed results along with your registration and proof of your current lease in a storage yard over to Stateline to get your sticker. It's just not very user friendly, I wish it was all on line, you've got to jump through a few hoops and you have to apply separately for every vessel. I own 4 different watercraft that I use regularly so it's burdensome to a degree, I hate muscles and what happened to our free decontamination's at Wahweap? I haven't seen that manned in years? It seems to me that if everyone was dead serious about not spreading the muscles that thing would be funded , free to boaters and running 12 hours a day.

SMH, insanity.

We share your frustration…multiple AZ-registered vessels strictly used in AZ. Never, Ever in Utah waters except at Lake Powell via the South End ramps.

The term “burdensome” is spot on.