By LINDSAY VanHULLE
TRAVERSE CITY -- Marty Trubilowicz does a lot of camping in her motor home, but mostly in other states.
When she does visit a Michigan state park, she has to decide whether an entrance tag for her vehicle is worth the cost.
Proposed new legislation announced Thursday calls for the elimination of entrance fees for all state parks, and drivers instead would be asked to foot the bill through an additional $10 when they renew their vehicles each year.
Similar bills in both the House and the Senate are expected to be introduced next week.
A vehicle with a Michigan license plate would gain entrance to parks at no charge.
"When you live up here, you're bound to use it once in a while," said Trubilowicz, of Charlevoix. "We'd probably use them more if we knew that we'd already paid."
It now costs state residents $6 daily and $24 annually to enter state parks.
Drivers could opt out if they didn't plan to use state parks, boat launches or recreation areas.
But there wouldn't be any way to track those who chose not to pay the extra $10, said Bob Wilson, policy adviser for the state Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs committee.
Opting out likely would involve checking a box on the registration renewal form.
"We wanted to try to make it as simple as possible," he said. "We just hope that those who choose not to participate are being honest."
The current system brings in $10 million each year, the equivalent of 20 percent participation under the proposed plan, Wilson said.
Anything above that would generate more money for the parks, he added. The state hopes 65 percent of drivers participate.
The legislation would allow staff to better use their time, cut down on lines and benefit drivers who want a view of Grand Traverse Bay, said Tim Schreiner, a unit supervisor at Traverse City State Park.
"Even if they never drive in there, I see it as a benefit," Schreiner said. "Their natural resources are being preserved."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
