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Johnnie St. Vrain: Free Union Reservoir entry for disabled veterans -- with a sticker

Daily Times-Call - 5/14/2023

May 14—Dear Johnnie: On the Union Reservoir website, it states: "Colorado residents with current Disabled Veterans License Plates may enter Union Reservoir for free. The veteran must be present in the vehicle. Daily vehicle fee only, do not include boating rates."

I wish to clarify my entering Union Reservoir in my vehicle with my Colorado disabled veterans license plates. At the beginning of last year's season (2022), the gentleman at the entry gate told me I must have a seasonal entry sticker on my windshield. He explained that the information about entering for free needed to be corrected. At that time, I purchased an entry sticker.

Due to illness this past year, I only visited Union Reservoir two or three times. On April 1, 2023, I visited with my dog, and the same gentleman at the entry date noticed that my sticker was out of date. He informed me that I must renew my sticker.

As I looked up how to purchase an entry sticker on the website this year, I noticed the statement regarding disabled veterans license plates remained in place.

In 2021, I was waved through the entry gate with my disabled veterans license plates by numerous persons at the entry gate when they noticed my license plate.

Please clarify if the website statement is correct.

Kind regards. — Dan

Dear Dan: I turned to the city for help with your question.

Based on what I learned, it seems as if the different workers you encountered at the gate had different and imprecise interpretations of the entry guidelines — and that the message on the website, while accurate, isn't complete.

Here's what spokeswoman Rachel Moyer, who tracked down the correct information, had to say:

"We have a disabled/veterans pass that is $0. We just ask to see verification of their status for this pass. Once they 'purchase' this pass, we give them a vehicle pass sticker to put on their car. With the sticker they can use the pass lane and not have to stop by the gate window each time."

So, yes, disabled veterans may enter the park for free. And, yes, you need a sticker.

The sticker must be picked up in person, at the entry station at the lake. Moyer said a disabled veterans license plate will suffice — and you have one of those. Proper documentation also suffices. And, since you have the disabled veteran plates, this tells me you have the documents required by the DMV — a letter from the VA or your military branch, your discharge documents.

Dan, thanks for the question. I'm hoping that other disabled vets are learning today that they can acquire a pass to Union Reservoir.

Send questions to johnnie@times-call.com.

___

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