GOVERNOR OTTER PURCHASES FIRST IDAHO STATE PARKS PASSPORT
IDAHO (September 28, 2012) - Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter purchased the first Idaho State Parks Passport this morning at a press conference in his office. Public sales officially begin Monday, October 1, 2012.
The Idaho State Parks Passport is a new $10 annual sticker available for Idahoans. It will be available for motorists at the time you register your recreational vehicle (RV) or passenger vehicle, online, by mail-in renewal or at any county DMV office.
“We are partnering with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) on the Passport Program, utilizing the annual ITD vehicle registration process as an awareness building tool, reaching out to the 2.5 million registered motorists in Idaho,” said IDPR Director, Nancy Merrill.
The Idaho State Parks Passport is valid for either one ($10) or two years ($20), and will expire concurrently with vehicle registrations.
The Passport will save Idahoans the state park Motor Vehicle Entry Fee (MVEF) of $5 per day, covers all day-use and boat launch fees, and provides a nightly discount for campers.
A 20% participation of the state’s 2.5 million registered vehicles will yield approximately $1.9 million dollars to help off-set recent agency budget reductions.
“Passport sales are critical in our movement towards the long-term, sustainable funding sources we need in order to keep Idaho’s State Parks open and accessible,” said Merrill. “The revenue from this important program will not make the agency whole, but certainly provides a solid foundation from which we can begin to move forward.”