Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › New Minnesota AIS trailer sticker regulations
RobP.
I just found out about this new requirement for 2015 in Minnesota. Aquatic Invsive Species training will be requried for all people that pull a boat through Minnesota. http://trailers.mndnr.gov/It looks like anyone trailering through Minnesota will be required to complete training, and have a sticker on their trailer, due for renewal every 3 years. Costs have not yet been set. Im not aware of anything like this in currently in Ontario, though I will have to do some digging. Im also not sure how this will effect anglers on border waters that fish Minnesota/Ontario or are traveling through navigatable waterways from the Canadian side.Are there any other states with regulations like this, or pending? Id be interested to hear if any of the fisheries people on the bord are aware of what the future holds for invsive species regultions and laws as it pertains to cross state regultions.The current post on Bull Shoals makes it clear this is going to be a ongoing issue. Thanks, Rob Plumridge
Another great reason for me to stay far away from Minnesota and their ever changing rules.
It probably could be applied to Minnesota boaters towing, though doubtful those outside of MN driving through. Potentially a violation of Interstate Commerce and we do not think they can apply a law concerning a vehicle registered outside of MN>?They probably can apply something at the point of launch or to be on the reservoir. Though there are more knowledgeable than ourselves on this one. BCB
I spend 2 sometimes 3 weeks a year up there so I will probably pony up the $$ to avoid any hassle. I dont think that law is going to help anything. The last couple of lakes I have been on they have volunteers check your boat at the ramp anyway.
If you consider that there is public access to every lake in Minnesota, unlike most other states, this does not seem to be unreasonable, especially if the money goes directly to evasive species control.
Here in California the DMV (and fish and game) require a Quagua mussel sticker (3in by 3in) on your boat that you get (with reading info) when you register your boat (every 2 years) and charge $10.I live by Clearlake, and the county requires inspections (annually for county residents, monthly for out of county residents). You get three stickers (3 x 3), two for the boat and 1 for the trailer. This also has a $10 dollar fee per inspection. For residents you get another 3 stickers (1 1/2 x 3) that has the year on it, for non residents you get a month sticker (1 1/2 x 3) that has the month on it. All these stickers have to be placed along side the registration numbers in the correct order. Other counties/lakes require inspections and you need to keep the form (dated) in your boat. Some of these are “self inspections”, others are visual. Wrong/no stickers on the boat (or the trailer in the parking lot) -you get a ticket/fine (500+). No problem if you are “just passing through”, just on the water. Its getting to the point where boats out here are looking like nascar with all the sticker on them!Last edited by catmantwo on December 24th, 2014, 4:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.Your Signature …
Should be required at the point of registration, there is no reason for a separate sticker when we all have to register those boats anyway. BCB
….no need to finish the statement. Government is really getting to mirror that statement. We have to pay fee for a sticker every year now. Why? Where does the money go? Does stupid use it rid the lakes of the invasive species? Arent Anglos an invasive species in this “once” great country? This action of your government is just a drip in the large bucket of continued stupid….It is now common place…So sad….The few out powering the many….
I do agree with the statement that basjax said…..stupid is. And I would think that Basscat is correct in the respect of interstate commerce. I would like to think that all of the boat manufacturers would have something to say about this since according to what the link states, the trailer has to have the sticker on it. I hate to think that it will take a lawsuit or two to correct this situation. I just wonder how much revenue they are going to lose from people like myself staying away. But more important is this is typical government over reach and to me enough is enough. When the Feds for example or the States all make up these rules for their facilities and parks I think they are missing the proverbial boat. We, the people own these parks, lands, facilities, not any governmental entity. And we need to stick our voices, and our foot into the appropriate places to make sure they know what we are saying. When I read that the State of Washington is now going to go for a user fee for the amount of miles that someone drives to gain more revenue (gee isnt that what the current gasoline taxes are), or the EPA continues to regulate and drop new rules on small business owners is it any wonder why we are in such a mess.
Basscat, I hope you are right on the interstate commerce requirements. Catmantwo, thanks for the info on California. Im not sure I agree with much of what you describe, but California is often used as an example to other states. Id rather see a requirement for a free education component that must be completed before renewing a fishing license, or something of that sort. In Canada we have to complete a one time course on boater safety to operate any power boat. It covers navigation, trailering, and safety equipment requirements, similar to writing a drivers test for a learners permit. It isnt an ideal system, but could be used as a model for invasive species training. The training should be specific to the person, not the boat/trailer. As long as one person in the party is compliant with requirements, that should clear the boat and make that person the responsible party to ensure no transfer of invasive species. I guess Ill just wait and see until the final guidelines are released.
© 2026 Bass Cat Boats
