IDNR supports proposed changes to off-road usage stamp

Modifications include landowner and standard golf cart exemptions, reduced price for youth ATVs

[December 07, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced on Thursday that it supports legislation that would make several changes to a new usage stamp for off-highway vehicle riders. The new usage stamp will be required beginning in April.

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 2633, sponsored by state Sen. David Koehler, D- Peoria, makes several changes to the original off-highway vehicle usage stamp law that was part of a sustainable funding package for the IDNR approved in 2012.

"I want to thank Sen. Koehler for his quick action and willingness to work with the IDNR to make these changes that will benefit the citizens of Illinois, including landowners and hunters," said IDNR Director Marc Miller.

If passed, SB 2633 would reduce the cost of the OHV stamp from $15 to $10 for small, youth ATVs, 75 cc and under, and add several exemptions to the OHV stamp, including:

• Standard golf carts.

• OHVs operated on any property owned by the vehicle owner.

• OHVs operated by a person with certain physical disabilities.

• OHVs operated for any commercial businesses purpose.

• OHVs operated at a commercial riding park.

• OHVs already registered with the secretary of state.

The new OHV stamp will be available in early 2014 at DNR Direct license and permit point-of-sale vendor locations throughout the state. The annual stamps are part of the IDNR sustainable funding package passed last year. The usage stamps sold in 2014 will be valid from April 1, 2014, through March 31, 2015, the same schedule for which Illinois annual hunting and fishing licenses are issued.

Funds generated through the OHV stamp will be used to develop public-access trails for OHV use in Illinois, and to make use of more than $1 million in federal funds currently available for motorized trail development and maintenance through available matching dollars. Because Illinois has not been able to match these federal funds with state dollars, IDNR has been unable to provide single-purpose OHV recreation trails.

The annual usage stamp for OHVs will be $15, plus a 50-cent issuance fee to the point-of-sale vendor. The expiration date on the OHV stamp will be March 31 each year.

[Text from Illinois Department of Natural Resources file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]

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