OCEAN CITY, Md.- Many boat owners say they're not happy with a boating fee increase proposed by Maryland's Department of Natural Resources.
"We already are being hit with high fuel prices and the cost of boating is just getting so outrageous," Bruce Shannon said. "It's getting so prohibitive that people are actually getting out of boating."
DNR says it needs the increase to pay for boating projects, like dredging and access facility improvements. DNR has $41 million worth of boating projects, but only $15 million for the year.
Boaters currently pay $24 every two years to register a boat; with the increase, they would pay between $50 and $700 depending on vessel size.
