It was citizens’ number one complaint: the Discover Pass was only good for one car.

A clause in the program that limited transferability between vehicles will become a thing of the past under legislation proposed by state Senator Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island.

“We’ve known since before we wrote the legislation that it would be a work in progress,” he said. “Often you don’t get it right the first time – you get it out there and then make changes.”

Ranker, the prime sponsor of the bill creating the Discover Pass last spring, said in a press release that the intent of his new legislation is to add a level of convenience for prospective purchasers and families across the state. It would amend existing law to allow transferability between two vehicles and would take effect immediately. Current pass holders would be allowed a second vehicle as well.

“Different activities require different vehicles and modes of transportation,” he said. “After hearing from citizens statewide, it’s clear that a non-transferable pass places too large a burden upon already strained family budgets.”

The $30 pass ($35 if you buy it online or at a retail store) is now required of anyone who intends to park a vehicle, motorcycle or moped at any state park for longer than 15 minutes. Because of this new fee, all of Washington’s 119 state parks and its 7 million acres of recreation lands were slated to remain open despite a $4.6 billion projected drop in state revenue over the next two years and the many cutbacks in spending that lawmakers have implemented.

Visitors can also purchase a $10 day-use permit. Residents who volunteer 24 hours of service per year will receive a complimentary pass and hunters and fishermen will be issued a vehicle access pass for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands when they purchase their game license.

Janice and Alan Wiemeyer of Orcas were supportive of the initiative but unhappy about its inability to transfer between cars. The couple bought two passes for both of their vehicles.

“I was disappointed because if we have guests or family here and we want to use our big car, we couldn’t do it,” Janice said. “Ordinarily we use our hybrid … I am delighted to have a pass that is transferable between the cars. I think it makes great sense. It means each household, not each car, can have a permit to be in the park. It’s also encouraging to see that a governmental program can see a limitation and move to correct it so quickly.”

The pass was projected to bring in $17 million by the end of the year; so far, it has raised around $10 million. It needs to bring in $72 million in a full year to maintain the current levels of parks.

Ranker told the Sounder that the state parks department recently laid off 160 people.

“The Discover Pass and other revenues are just not oncoming in,” he said.

Ranker said keeping Moran State Park open not only preserves natural resources and provides recreational opportunities but is a critical economic driver for the Orcas community.

A November survey conducted by Washington State University under the direction of state parks, fish and wildlife and natural resources agencies showed the lack of transferability to act as a disincentive, triggering a negative effect upon revenue collections.

“The goal here is the same as it’s always been – to keep the gates open at public lands,” Ranker said. “If we can add a new level of convenience for families while improving the pass to achieve this goal, then that’s a positive outcome on all sides.”

According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, as of Dec. 1, a total of 428 annual passes and 51 one-day passes were sold in San Juan County through online and dealer sales. The department does not have numbers on other sales avenues.

With 26 cosponsors crossing both sides of the aisle, Ranker expects the bill to move quickly. A public hearing on the proposal has been scheduled in the Senate Energy, Natural Resources & Marine Waters Committee, which Ranker chairs, on Dec. 14. He hopes it will pass through Ways and Means and then the Senate floor by Dec. 16.

“The sooner it goes into play the more money we may get,” Ranker said.