Oregon requiring pilots register and pay fee to state.

If I lived in Oregon, I'd tell them to take their "registration" document and stick it where the sun don't shine.

JMHO,

Mike
 
I believe this applies to those just passin' through also.
 
Just another tax,have to find as many things to tax as possible. If this money supports the search and rescue programs,where does the public safety budget go. Is there a tax for nickers?
 
I presume Oh-re-gun has a SAR operation for stranded motorists, hikers, bikers, boaters, etc. I'm also sure they are instituting fee process for all those activities. Yeah - right...
 
It apply to all pilots who operate in Oregon. Residents and nonresidents alike. Excludes pilots of scheduled commercial flight. Renews on your birthday. After the first year $24 fee for two years.
 
So if I overfly Oregon on my way to Pasco, I have to pay them? How is that going to work?
 
They don't enforce this law. The amount involved, $12/year (used to be $8), doesn't make it worth it. It is pretty much an honor thing. Based on my experience I don't believe they attempt to bill any pilots who even get their license while residing here. I suspect few Oregon pilots - and almost certainly none passing through - are even aware the law exists.

So feel free to fly here.


ttp://www.oregon.gov/aviation/pages/pilotreg.aspx

https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/2013ors837.html

On the plus side, there is no sales (or use) tax in Oregon. You'd have to fly a heck of a lot of years at $12/year to pay more than you would sales tax in some states when buying an aircraft.
 
I will not be flying to/through Oh-ree-gun again.
 
MikeELP said:
If I lived in Oregon, I'd tell them to take their "registration" document and stick it where the sun don't shine.
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You are certainly free to do that, but the state has the power to make you regret that decision.

State registration of resident pilots (including registration fees) is legal in this country as long as the state doesn't have any additional certification requirements above and beyond the FAA's.


Whether a state can do this for non-resident pilots is another story. From Oregon's web site:
Every pilot operating within Oregon is required to be registered with the Oregon Department of Aviation. By law, registration must take place within 60 days of issuance of any "appropriate effective federal certificate, permit, rating or license relating to competency as a pilot" - with the exception of student pilots, who must register prior to their first solo flight.

Non-resident pilots must also register with Dept of Aviation if flying in Oregon. Only non-resident pilots flying in order for major air carriers are exempt from pilot registration requirement, so long as they do not engage in any recreational flying or personal business, such as charter, agricultural operations, flight instruction, etc. in Oregon.
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I see this as a violation of the Interstate Commerce clause of the US Constitution. That was the main reason NY's attempt to control flight training in NY State failed legally, and I see this part being squashed by the first Federal court before which it comes. My personal feeling is you'd have to spend some minimum number of days per year in the state (a fairly substantial number, like over 180 or something like that) for them to be able to require you to register and pay a fee.
 
This subject comes up in the forums periodically. Inasmuch as my residence and airplane's home field are just across the border in WA, but I often fly into/through/over Oregon (today, f'rinstance), I phoned the Oregon Dept. of Aviation for clarification a few years ago. The nice lady admitted the language in the statute is very poor (par for the course for the Oregon legislature), but they're not interested in non-resident pilots or airplanes unless they're in the state for 60 days or more at a stretch. That at least gives the state a colorably reasonable basis for exercising administrative authority over non-residents.
 
I don't recognize that tax, should I find myself in that state I won't be giving in to theft.
 
Pilawt said:
This subject comes up in the forums periodically. Inasmuch as my residence and airplane's home field are just across the border in WA, but I often fly into/through/over Oregon (today, f'rinstance), I phoned the Oregon Dept. of Aviation for clarification a few years ago. The nice lady admitted the language in the statute is very poor (par for the course for the Oregon legislature), but they're not interested in non-resident pilots or airplanes unless they're in the state for 60 days or more at a stretch. That at least gives the state a colorably reasonable basis for exercising administrative authority over non-residents.
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Unfortunately, if it isn't written down, it didn't happen. However, if we go to the law itself, we see in paragraph 837.020...
Nonresidents operating within this state, other than in a commercial operation, shall register with the department within 60 days of the date of arrival within the state.
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...which could easily be interpreted to say that if you leave the state before 60 days after of your arrival, there's no requirement and the clock starts over upon your next arrival. While I think that's still arguable, other posts suggest Oregon isn't pursuing this with nonresident pilots, and from what I understand, unless they do try to nail someone, the Federal courts won't review it.

In any event, I certainly wouldn't be deterred from piloting a plane in/out of Oregon by this, and won't be filling out the paperwork/writing a check if I do. This is a legal risk I'm willing to take, so if they want, they can sue me and see what happens.
 
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One of the many reasons folks often accidentally miss type N numbers into self serve pumps.
 
James331 said:
One of the many reasons folks often accidentally miss type N numbers into self serve pumps.
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That's a really stupid thing to do intentionally. In fact, it's very foolish and shortsighted not to make absolutely sure you type it in correctly. The reason that is recorded is so they can notify you if there turns out to be a problem with the gas from that pump before you fly further with it, and to allow you to prove you got gas from that pump if the gas causes a problem with your aircraft (or someone else's aircraft from the same batch of fuel as went into your plane). I got a free drain, flush, fuel filter cleaning, and fill-up that way back in the 90's when there was some contaminated avgas pumped at Martin State Airport in Maryland. If your N-number wasn't on the paperwork, you didn't get the free help.
 
Ron Levy said:
In any event, I certainly wouldn't be deterred from piloting a plane in/out of Oregon by this, and won't be filling out the paperwork/writing a check if I do. This is a legal risk I'm willing to take, so if they want, they can sue me and see what happens.
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FWIW, it's about a 20-minute walk from my hangar to the Oregon state line. I've landed/flown through/over Oregon hundreds of times in the last twenty years, and neither I, nor anyone else I know, has ever been contacted/approached/hassled by Oregon about this fee.

Now if an airplane sits all summer long on the tiedown line at Seaside or Sunriver, that might be a different matter.
 
In theory maybe, realistically by the time I get notified the fuel is bad I would have already burned it all or had a problem, if I find a problem I can always pull the record off my bank statement.

I'd just rather not leave bread crumbs for busy bodies, hence the NBAA block on my plane.
 
James331 said:
In theory maybe, realistically by the time I get notified the fuel is bad I would have already burned it all or had a problem, if I find a problem I can always pull the record off my bank statement.

I'd just rather not leave bread crumbs for busy bodies, hence the NBAA block on my plane.
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It doesn't surprise me that you feel that way. I just don't think it's wise and prudent in the long run, but YMMV.
 
James331 said:
In theory maybe, realistically by the time I get notified the fuel is bad I would have already burned it all or had a problem, if I find a problem I can always pull the record off my bank statement.

I'd just rather not leave bread crumbs for busy bodies, hence the NBAA block on my plane.
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ding,ding,ding,ding.

The gas is gone, the plane is damaged. If I need to prove I bought a defective product, the N number is going to be a very short conversation before I call the atty, and that will also be a short conversation. Unless I pay cash(never have in my life) for avgas somewhere.
 
Old Geek said:
So if I overfly Oregon on my way to Pasco, I have to pay them? How is that going to work?
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Failure to drop $12 in legal tender results in the launch of anti-aircraft missiles.

docmirror said:
I will not be flying to/through Oh-ree-gun again.
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My sister-in-law and other native Oregonians probably appreciate you using the proper pronunciation, rather than "Oh-ree-gone".

Ron Levy said:
You are certainly free to do that, but the state has the power to make you regret that decision.
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"Come visit us again and again. This is a state of excitement. But for heaven's sake, don't come here to live." -- Tom McCall, Republican governor of Oregon, in 1971.

James331 said:
I don't recognize that tax, should I find myself in that state I won't be giving in to theft.
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Shhh. Don't tell anyone, but I earned my private pilot license while residing here in Oregon and didn't pay that fee for almost 2 years. The hounds of hell were not unleashed on me - I know not why. I failed to lose any sleep over the issue - I must be crazy dangerous. Somehow, some way, I managed to scrape together the $8 (well, now $12) and sent it in because I thought they might actually use it for SAR ops like they claimed. It nearly bankrupted me and I had to switch to a cheaper brand of toothpaste, but I was willing to sacrifice my teeth for the greater good.
 
Jim Logajan said:
My sister-in-law and other native Oregonians probably appreciate you using the proper pronunciation, rather than "Oh-ree-gone".
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Hey, I'm from TX. Any time I get a chance to say, write or shoot 'gun' I take it. :D

Honestly, Oh-ree-gun is a darn beautiful state, and I've had many great visits there. I used to train at the Fluke facility and we got some fantastic fishing in after hours. Shame it's populated by neo-fascists in office.
 
Overnighted in Eugene a couple of years ago. Knew nothing about the registration nor tax. Was not challenged by the FBO that provided fuel, tiedown and rental car about it.
 
IL has an annual (IIRC) pilot registration fee as well. They sent me a form shortly after I moved here since I filed a change of address with the FAA. I ignored it, and let my medical lapse. Haven't heard from them since, even though I have my medical back and am flying again.
 
NH has or had(20 years ago) a state pilots license/fee as well. Everyone was supposed to buy one, it was 20 bucks iirc. Skydivers were included and supposed to buy one as well. Wasn't a whole lot of enforcement. Stupid as these things are they are easily ignored and way less ominous then the tax bills delivered because your N number was somewhere sometard tax collector happened to be.
 
They'd probably increase their revenue if they made registration voluntary and offered some essentially no-cost benefits in return, like special "Oregon Aviator" tags for the pilot's car(s) or negotiated FBO and other travel-related discounts.

-Rich
 
Ron Levy said:
That's a really stupid thing to do intentionally. In fact, it's very foolish and shortsighted not to make absolutely sure you type it in correctly. The reason that is recorded is so they can notify you if there turns out to be a problem with the gas from that pump before you fly further with it, and to allow you to prove you got gas from that pump if the gas causes a problem with your aircraft (or someone else's aircraft from the same batch of fuel as went into your plane). I got a free drain, flush, fuel filter cleaning, and fill-up that way back in the 90's when there was some contaminated avgas pumped at Martin State Airport in Maryland. If your N-number wasn't on the paperwork, you didn't get the free help.
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Got some Jet A tainted fuel in a rental Archer at OAK many moons ago. Pump didn't have the capability to input a tail number, so they sent the letter to my ex bro in law who used his credit card to pay for the fuel.

Never did get the engine looked at in the Archer. FBO owner demanded I turn over the letter so he could get new engines in the Twin Comanche instead. :rolleyes:
 
RJM62 said:
They'd probably increase their revenue if they made registration voluntary and offered some essentially no-cost benefits in return, like special "Oregon Aviator" tags for the pilot's car(s) or negotiated FBO and other travel-related discounts.

-Rich
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Tax and spenders don't care about value or efficiency. All they see is your wallet and their empire.
 
RJM62 said:
They'd probably increase their revenue if they made registration voluntary and offered some essentially no-cost benefits in return, like special "Oregon Aviator" tags for the pilot's car(s) or negotiated FBO and other travel-related discounts.

-Rich
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I wouldn't mind paying a search and rescue fee if I got access to or given an aviation license plate. It would sure help out a lot at access controlled fields like Little Rock. One of the complaints I heard from airport ops was the inability to tell what vehicles on the ramp were pilot owned, past having to look up the ramp tag id.

Does any state have an aviation vanity plate ?
 
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