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| July 12, 2011
Reference: Sale/Issue of Temporary Fishing Licenses
Minnesota License Agents and Resorts:
Thank you for your patience as we await a resolution to the state government shutdown. I understand that this has been frustrating for you and your customers, and I know my staff is also eager to return to their work serving you, Minnesota’s resources and our natural resources-based economies.
It has come to my attention that a few contract license agents and resorts have started issuing temporary fishing licenses with a “promise to purchase” a legal license when the Minnesota state government resumes operation. These are not legal fishing licenses and will not be recognized as such by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officers. These officers are on duty in spite of the government shutdown and will continue to enforce Minnesota’s natural resources laws and protect state property and assets.
If you are engaging in this practice of selling temporary licenses, I respectfully ask you to discontinue doing so immediately. This practice is in violation of several Minnesota statutes and rules, as well as the DNR’s standard Electronic Licensing Service (ELS) point-of-sale agent contracts including the following:
? Minn. State 97A.405 requires anglers to have the proper license in their personal possession while angling, so they may exhibit proof of license purchase as requested by a conservation or peace officer.
? Minn. Stat. 97A.485 Subd. 5 states that “An agent must promptly deposit and remit all money received from the sale of licenses, except issuing fees, to the commissioner.”
? Minn. Rules 6213.0100 to 6213.0800 include a number of requirements related to agent responsibility, and include provisions for the suspension of agent contracts (Minn. Rules 6213.0420 Subp. 2) for failing to comply with the terms or conditions of the agent contract, failing to keep adequate accounting records, or failing to maintain sufficient funds in the appropriate bank account.
? Finally, our Electronic Licensing Service (ELS) point-of-sale agent contracts include a number of requirements that the agent is unable to comply with when the ELS is not available: 1) funds cannot be remitted to the commissioner, and 2) printed legal licenses, which must be in an angler’s possession while fishing, cannot be issued.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-259-5615
The ELS also serves to provide some protection to our license agents against claims of fraud related to license sales by providing an independent, electronic record of license sales transactions and automated fund transfer. The DNR cannot afford you those protections in the absence of this system.
I continue to remain hopeful that a resolution to the current budget impasse will be found soon. Once a resolution is found, I assure you that my staff will work to get the ELS system up and running again as quickly as possible.
Sincerely,
Tom Landwehr
DNR Commissioner |
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| So if you weren't able to get a license before this whole fiasco, whats the fine for fishing without a license? |
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Posts: 897
| Between the fine, the surcharge and library fees, you're looking at around $225-300 plus any fines for fish in the well or other violations. Don't worry about it, though, looks like they're going to be ending the shutdown shortly. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | No offense but what BS! So these idiot politicians continue to get paid but screw the resort guys and the 1000s or MN visitors who wanted to drop some money on their vacation for fishing tackle. Wow! |
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Posts: 313
Location: Bemidji, Lake Vermilion | I have spoken to CO's both by phone and in person. All I've had contact with have said they will essentially follow the idea that they will write you a warning ticket and will follow up on it after license sales resume and if within a reasonable time a license was not purchased they will convert it to a fine/violation. It is always up to the discretion of the individual CO to write a ticket or not, seems like most (but maybe not all) will not be writing tickets and feel the same way we do, very tough to enforce something that you can't legally obtain at the moment due to no fault of your own. |
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| Thanks for the info, I think I'll go for it. Big fish, Big Fish, here I come. |
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Posts: 3913
| Local news (MI) said you MN folks won't be able to buy beer. Really.
If downsizing government is necessray to resolve our fiscal crises, MN could merge with WI and we can call the new state either Minnisconsin or Wiscimisota. Such a move would provide lots of opportunity to decrease operating costs by eliminating unnecessary duplication of various government activities.
And to those career politicians who rant for smaller government we can say "You wish came true, you're fired."
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Just Miller products (they are gonna sue the holy crap outa MN for that one). If it keeps up there will be plenty of Wisconsinites complaining about all the MN license plates at our liquor stores. |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | No offense but wasn’t everyone warned there was going to be a temporary shutdown of the gov’t, and that license sales will not happen during that time? I know I saw it online for at least a week prior. Perhaps some should have taken it seriously and gotten their license ahead of time if they planned on fishing in MN. Why wait to get your license?
Resorts should have been calling guests warning them to get a license before the shutdown. Guides the same.
Ignorance is bliss!
Sorry but sick of hearing about what a bunch of crap it is. I say there was fair warning.
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Posts: 897
| No offense, Travis, but not many folks are as dialed into this stuff as those who are on this or other boards online. Lots of people from out of state probably had an idea a government shutdown might be coming here but had no idea it would affect their ability to go fishing. Not every resort owner or guide is as atuned to this stuff as you seem to think they should be either. Lighten up. |
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Posts: 393
Location: Hopefully on the water | Not everyone has a planned trip and buy their license ahead of time. Sometimes opportunities come up that could allow you to fish somewhere elsewhere and in this case is not allowing a person to fish in MN by their legal term of not having a license even though they can not provide you the opportunity to get one.
I agree with Whynot that not everyone is aware of this and how much it truely affects their summer plans. |
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Posts: 437
| Tackle Industries - 7/14/2011 12:15 PM
No offense but what BS! So these idiot politicians continue to get paid but screw the resort guys and the 1000s or MN visitors who wanted to drop some money on their vacation for fishing tackle. Wow! AMEN!!! And now they are messing with our BEER!!!
I should sue the State of MN for not providing portable toilets at the landings and causing me undue strain, stress and embarrasment of having to use the trees. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | If by warned you mean they read about it on websites that reach maybe 5 percent (combined) of the people who fish there, than yes, they were warned. I guess the people who aren't on the internet every day are ignorant. |
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| I am sure this was on the news, and in the newspapers. Probably on the radio as well. I doubt this was something done without anykind of announcement of the possibility of it happening. I knew about it since April or so, but then again maybe because I know someone from MN. This isn't something that just happen overnight.
Yes I agree it may suck for those that may want to take a trip there at the spur of the moment, but it is not those people I see complaining online. Also, it is the complaining online I am speaking of. Sure I may be on here quite often, but others I see complaining I also saw on at the time of the possability of shutdown happening, and that license wouldn't be available for sale. That is the fare warning I speak of.
My opinion is if your business depends on tourism linked with something that may affect that tourism you better make an effort to stay aware of what is happening within the state. Meaning Guides and Resorts should be aware of what was/is going to happen before it happend. So if you are hearing of a possible government shutdown I would think you would keep an ear out for how it may affect your business.
Yes this is online, but if there is news to be found online there was also news reported in newspapers, radio, and on TV. Here is an article in early June.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/123693874.html?page=...
I apologize if I seem unsympathetic. Maybe because it isn't affecting me. However I saw on the internet, yes I know, a warning ahead of time those that plan to fish MN better get their license at that time otherwise they risk the possibility of not getting it. Some got it, and some took their chances. Now those that took their chances are here in forums stating their displeasure in not being able to get a license.
Fare warning I say to those complaining here on the web.
Now please make sure the tomatoes are overripe before you throw them at me. |
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Posts: 313
Location: Bemidji, Lake Vermilion | People travelling from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and other even further places don't get a lot of "local" MN news regardless of source and assumed when they came for their vacation they'd be able to buy a license. Thats the same general assumption I'd make traveling to another state to fish also. |
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Location: Sawyer County, WI |
It's not too late to vacation in Wisconsin !  |
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Posts: 233
Location: Iowa | I think if I were a resort owner or guide and knew of I possible govt shutdown. I would be on the phone calling scheduled guests/clients about a govt shutdown that include the ability of buying fishing license.
Jeremy
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Posts: 13
Location: Billings, MT | Okay, I'm from Idaho and have a trip planned to minnesota at the end of this month. Do you think I should have seen, read, or heard about the Minnesota shutdown on my local news? Let's be honest, who would have ever thought that you wouldnt be able to buy a fishing license? Personally, I have never heard of a state government shutdown and didnt think it should be on my pre-trip planning checklist. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | My buds just went over to MN for the week, knowing nothing of the gov shutdown and subsequent non license sales. They spoke with a warden and were told that they would be told, if checked, to buy a license as soon as they could. Records also show both of them have purchased licenses for the past several years, not that that really matters.
Edited by Reef Hawg 7/16/2011 6:24 AM
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Posts: 1270
| What's the latest on this issue? Has the finance stuff been resolved yet? |
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Posts: 304
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | MN licenses are now available online.
Good Luck
Steve |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Before I left I called and left messages with the Grand Rapids Regional DNR Captain, the St Louis Co Sheriff and both CO's who patrol Vermilion. The Captain and the west end CO both returned my call the same day and were very cordial, helpful and informed me they would be enforcing other laws that tend to get neglected during the high volume water patrol time they spend during vacation season. They both assured me that unless I was in violation of some other boating or possesion laws the license enforcement would not be an issue for those who (through no fault of their own) could not purchase a tag once arriving in MN. I was very impressed with their timely and honest personal replies. I've never had any issues with law enforcement on the water in MN and after this experience I doubt I ever will. Good job CO's! (and thank you!) |
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