UP Gazette

State Representative Dave Prestin has criticized the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for attempting to increase costs for Michigan residents. On Thursday, Prestin, along with nine colleagues from Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, sent a letter to DNR Director Scott Bowen. They demanded that the department halt efforts to impose additional expenses on outdoor enthusiasts.

Prestin stated, "The DNR is lined with wasteful spending, inefficient employees, and failing programs. Yet, instead of looking internally to find ways to cut costs and fund park improvements, DNR leadership is trying to sneak through increased fees and policy changes to pay for their own shortcomings."

Currently, the DNR is seeking fee hikes on hunting, fishing, and boating licenses. They are also attempting to change the enrollment process for annual recreation passports on license plates from an opt-in model to an opt-out one. Prestin criticized this approach as deceptive and accused Democrat bill sponsors of linking it with a bill providing veterans free access to state parks.

Under existing policy, individuals renewing their license plates must check a box to opt-in for a recreational passport. The new proposal would require them to check a box to opt-out instead. This could lead people who have never purchased or intended to use such a passport into inadvertently buying one.

House Republicans argue that the DNR should improve its offerings rather than increasing fees without adequate public input or explanation. Prestin remarked, “DNR leadership will tell you they are ‘modernizing’ the recreational passports. If by modernizing, they mean utilizing deceptive practices to trick people into paying for a subscription they’ll never actually use; they’re spot on.”

According to Prestin, under the proposed opt-out system, only 20% of funds raised through recreational passports would benefit state parks. The remaining funds would return directly to the DNR.