Yosemite National Park hopes new camping reservation system will thwart scalpers

New procedures for Yosemite National Park campground reservations aim to thwart scalpers, park officials say.

Starting Wednesday, campers had to show identification when checking in at the registration office. The policy is meant to verify that the camper is the person who made the reservation on the National Park System's website. Also, the name on a reservation cannot be changed later, park officials said. A $10 fee will be charged for canceled reservations.

Yosemite also plans to change the way canceled reservations are handled. When a reservation is canceled, the campsite is again seen online as being available. Under the new system, these campsites will be available only by calling the registration phone number. The change goes into effect in late summer.

All Yosemite campsites are reserved through a contractor called Active Works. The website is www.recreation.gov.

— Sun-Star staff