Supervisors decide no boat ramp decals in Northampton

No special decal will be needed for parking or ramp usage at the three boat-launch facilities owned by Northampton County.

The Board of Supervisors decided against a proposal that would have given free usage decals to residents but charged as much as $40 annually, or $7 daily, for non-residents.

Accomack County has begun charging fees to out-of-county boat ramp users.

But Northampton supervisors were unclear if their own proposed ordinance was for ramp use or parking. At the three county-owned facilities, at Morley’s Wharf, Willis Wharf and Oyster Harbor, some use the area for fishing from docks or birdwatching.

Northampton Supervisors and officials agreed that parking at the three facilities was plentiful and locals weren’t being squeezed by out-of-state boaters, as is happening in Accomack.

A series of speakers at a public hearing also were against charging non-county residents for the use.

Supervisor David Fauber said he wanted amenities to be free to visitors, but couldn’t resist a dig at local police officers, saying speed enforcement already costs vacationers.

A boat ramp decal would be an extra expense to vacationers “who already got a speeding ticket coming into Cape Charles,” he said.