2023 Illinois Compiled Statutes
Chapter 625 - VEHICLES
625 ILCS 40/ - Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act.
Article III - Registration Of Snowmobiles
(625 ILCS 40/Art. III heading)
(625 ILCS 40/3-1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-1)
Sec. 3-1. Operation of Unnumbered Snowmobiles.
(a) Except as hereinafter provided, no person who is a resident of this State shall, after the effective date of this Act, operate any snowmobile within this State unless such snowmobile has been registered and numbered in accordance with the provisions of this Article, and unless the certificate of number awarded to such snowmobile is in full force and effect. A person who is not a resident of this State and who operates a snowmobile within this State may register that snowmobile in this State, but in the event that he or she does not, and he or she is not otherwise exempt under subsection (c) of Section 3-12 of this Article, he or she must obtain and display a trail use sticker in accordance with Section 3-12 of this Article.
(b) A person convicted of violating this Section is guilty of a petty offense.
(Source: P.A. 96-1291, eff. 4-1-11; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-2) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-2)
Sec. 3-2. Identification Number Application. The owner of each snowmobile requiring numbering by this State shall file an application for number with the Department on forms approved by it. The application shall be signed by the owner of the snowmobile and shall be accompanied by a fee of $30. When a snowmobile dealer sells a snowmobile the dealer shall, at the time of sale, require the buyer to complete an application for the registration certificate, collect the required fee and mail the application and fee to the Department no later than 15 days after the date of sale. Combination application-receipt forms shall be provided by the Department and the dealer shall furnish the buyer with the completed receipt showing that application for registration has been made. This completed receipt shall be in the possession of the user of the snowmobile until the registration certificate is received. No snowmobile dealer may charge an additional fee to the buyer for performing this service required under this subsection. However, no purchaser exempted under Section 3-11 of this Act shall be charged any fee or be subject to the other requirements of this Section. The application form shall so state in clear language the requirements of this Section and the penalty for violation near the place on the application form provided for indicating the intention to register in another jurisdiction. Each dealer shall maintain, for one year, a record in a form prescribed by the Department for each snowmobile sold. These records shall be open to inspection by the Department. Upon receipt of the application in approved form the Department shall enter the same upon the records of its office and issue to the applicant a certificate of number stating the number awarded to the snowmobile and the name and address of the owner.
For the registration years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, the application shall be signed by the owner of the snowmobile and shall be accompanied by a fee of $45.
(Source: P.A. 96-1291, eff. 4-1-11; 97-1136, eff. 1-1-13.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-3) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-3)
Sec. 3-3. Identification Number Display. The Department shall issue to the snowmobile owner two registration expiration decals with the number awarded to that snowmobile imprinted upon the decals. The owner shall apply these decals on each side of the cowling of such snowmobile. The certificate of number shall be pocket size and shall be available at all times for inspection on the snowmobile for which issued, whenever such snowmobile is in operation.
(Source: P.A. 81-1509.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-4) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-4)
Sec. 3-4. Destruction, Sale, Transfer or Abandonment.
The owner of any snowmobile shall within 15 days notify the Department if such snowmobile is destroyed or abandoned, or is sold or transferred either wholly or in part to another person or persons. In all such cases, the notice shall be accompanied by a surrender of the certificate of number. When the surrender of the certificate is by reason of the snowmobile being destroyed or abandoned, the Department shall cancel the certificate and enter such fact in its records. The Department shall be notified in writing of any change of address. Should the owner desire a new certificate of number, showing the new address, he shall surrender his old certificate and notify the Department of the new address, remitting one dollar to cover the issuance of a new certificate of number. If the surrender is by reason of a sale or transfer either wholly or in part to another person or persons, the owner surrendering the certificate shall state to the Department, under oath, the name of the purchaser or transferee.
(Source: P.A. 77-1312.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-5) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-5)
Sec. 3-5. Transfer of Identification Number. The purchaser of a snowmobile shall, within 15 days after acquiring same, make application to the Department for the transfer to him of the certificate of number issued to the snowmobile, giving his name, his address and the number of the snowmobile. The purchaser shall apply for a transfer-renewal for a fee of $30 for approximately 3 years. All transfers will bear September 30 expiration dates in the calendar year of expiration. Upon receipt of the application and fee, the Department shall transfer the certificate of number issued to the snowmobile to the new owner. Unless the application is made and fee paid within 30 days, the snowmobile shall be deemed to be without certificate of number and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate the snowmobile until the certificate is issued.
For the registration years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, the purchaser shall apply for a transfer-renewal for a fee of $45 for approximately 3 years.
(Source: P.A. 96-1291, eff. 4-1-11.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-6) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-6)
Sec. 3-6. Loss of certificate. Should a certificate of number or registration expiration decal become lost, destroyed, or mutilated beyond legibility, the owner of the snowmobile shall make application to the Department for the replacement of the certificate or decal, giving his name, address, and the number of his snowmobile and shall at the same time pay to the Department a fee of $5.
(Source: P.A. 97-1136, eff. 1-1-13.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-7) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-7)
Sec. 3-7. Department Records.) All records of the Department made or kept under this Article shall be public records.
(Source: P.A. 79-885.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-8) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-8)
Sec. 3-8. Certificate of Number. Every certificate of number awarded under this Act shall continue in full force and effect for approximately 3 years unless sooner terminated or discontinued in accordance with this Act. All new certificates issued will bear September 30 expiration dates in the calendar year 3 years after the issuing date. Provided however, that the Department may, for purposes of implementing this Section, adopt rules for phasing in the issuance of new certificates and provide for 1, 2 or 3 year expiration dates and pro-rated payments or charges for each registration.
All certificates shall be renewed for 3 years from the nearest September 30 for a fee of $30. All certificates will be considered invalid after October 15 of the year of expiration. All certificates expiring in a given year shall be renewed between April 1 and September 30 of that year, in order to allow sufficient time for processing.
The Department shall issue "registration expiration decals" with all new certificates of number, all certificates of number transferred and renewed, and all certificates of number renewed. The decals issued for each year shall be of a different and distinct color from the decals of each year currently displayed. The decals shall be affixed to each side of the cowling of the snowmobile in the manner prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Department. The Department shall fix a day and month of the year on which certificates of number due to expire shall lapse and no longer be of any force and effect unless renewed pursuant to this Act.
No number or registration expiration decal, except a sticker or number which may be required by a political subdivision, municipality, or state, other than the registration expiration decal issued to a snowmobile or granted reciprocity pursuant to this Act, shall be painted, attached, or otherwise displayed on either side of the cowling of such snowmobile.
A dealer engaged in the manufacture, sale, or leasing of snowmobiles required to be numbered hereunder, upon application to the Department upon forms prescribed by it, may obtain certificates of number for use in the testing or demonstrating of such snowmobiles upon payment of $30 for each registration. Certificates of number so issued may be used by the applicant in the testing or demonstrating of snowmobiles by temporary placement of the registration expiration decals assigned by such certificates on the snowmobile so tested or demonstrated.
For the registration years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, every certificate of number awarded under this Section shall be accompanied by a fee of $45.
(Source: P.A. 96-1291, eff. 4-1-11.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-9) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-9)
Sec. 3-9. Registration List. A snowmobile registration list may be furnished for official use at no charge only to such federal, state, county and municipal enforcement agencies as may require such data. A snowmobile registration list may be furnished, at the cost of reproduction, to statewide not-for-profit Illinois snowmobile organizations for use only with educational programs.
(Source: P.A. 92-174, eff. 7-26-01.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-10) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-10)
Sec. 3-10. Penalty.
No person shall at any time falsely alter or change in any manner the certificate of number issued under the provisions hereof, or falsify any record required by this Act, or counterfeit any form of license provided for by this Act.
(Source: P.A. 77-1312.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-11) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 603-11)
Sec. 3-11. Exception from numbering provisions of this Act.) A snowmobile shall not be required to be numbered under this Act if it is:
A. Owned and used by the United States, another state, or a political subdivision thereof, but such snowmobiles shall display the name of the owner on the cowling thereof.
B. (Blank).
C. Owned and operated on lands owned by the owner or operator or on lands to which he has a contractual right other than as a member of a club or association, provided the snowmobile is not operated elsewhere within the state.
D. Used only on international or national competition circuits in events for which written permission has been obtained by the sponsoring or sanctioning body from the governmental unit having jurisdiction over the location of any event held in this State.
E. Owned by persons domiciled in Illinois but used entirely in another jurisdiction when such owner has complied with the provisions of Section 3-2 of this Act.
F. Designed for use by small children primarily as a toy and used only on private property and not on any public use trail.
(Source: P.A. 96-1291, eff. 4-1-11.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-12)
Sec. 3-12. Trail use stickers.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, a person who is not a resident of this State shall not operate a snowmobile in this State unless a numbered trail use sticker issued under this Section is displayed on the snowmobile.
(b) The fee for a trail use sticker issued for a snowmobile under subsection (a) of this Section is $25 per registration year. A trail use sticker issued for such a snowmobile may be issued only by the Department and persons appointed by the Department and expires on June 30 of each registration year.
(c) A snowmobile that is registered and numbered in accordance with the provisions of this Article or that is exempt from registration under Section 3-11 of this Article is exempt from having a trail use sticker displayed under subsection (a) of this Section.
(d) The Department may appoint any person who is not an employee of the Department as the Department's agent to issue trail use stickers and collect the fees for the stickers.
(e) The Department shall establish by rule procedures for issuing trail use stickers, and the Department may promulgate rules regulating the activities of persons who are authorized to be agents under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 96-1291, eff. 4-1-11.)
(625 ILCS 40/3-13)
Sec. 3-13. Mandatory liability insurance.
(a) Other than a person operating a snowmobile on their own property that is not a posted snowmobile trail, and other than a person operating a snowmobile on property other than a posted snowmobile trail in which the owner of the property has given his or her written or oral consent to the person to operate a snowmobile on the property, no person shall operate, register, or maintain registration of, and no owner shall permit another person to operate, register or maintain registration of, a snowmobile in this State unless the snowmobile is covered by a liability insurance policy.
The insurance policy shall be issued in amounts no less than the minimum amounts set for bodily injury or death and for destruction of property under Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, and shall be issued in accordance with the requirements of Sections 143a and 143a-2 of the Illinois Insurance Code, as amended. No insurer other than an insurer authorized to do business in this State shall issue a policy pursuant to this Section 3-13. Nothing herein shall deprive an insurer of any policy defense available at common law.
(b) Proof of insurance as required by this Section shall be produced and displayed by the owner or operator of the snowmobile upon request to any law enforcement officer or to any person who has suffered or claims to have suffered either personal injury or property damage as a result of the operation of the snowmobile by the owner or operator.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), any operator of a snowmobile subject to registration and numbering under this Act who is convicted of violating subsection (a) of this Section is guilty of a petty offense and shall be required to pay a fine in excess of $500, but not more than $1,000. However, no person charged with violating this Section shall be convicted if such person produces in court satisfactory evidence that at the time of the arrest the snowmobile was covered by a liability insurance policy in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section. The chief judge of each circuit may designate an officer of the court to review the documentation demonstrating that at the time of arrest the snowmobile was covered by a liability insurance policy in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section.
(d) A person who (i) has not previously been convicted of or received a disposition of court supervision for violating subsection (a) of this Section and (ii) produces at his or her court appearance satisfactory evidence that the snowmobile is covered, as of the date of the court appearance, by a liability insurance policy in accordance with Section 7-601 of the Illinois Vehicle Code shall, for a violation of this Section, pay a fine of $100 and receive a disposition of court supervision. The person must, on the date that the period of court supervision is scheduled to terminate, produce satisfactory evidence that the snowmobile was covered by the required liability insurance policy during the entire period of court supervision.
An officer of the court designated under subsection (c) may also review liability insurance documentation under this subsection (d) to determine if the snowmobile is, as of the date of the court appearance, covered by a liability insurance policy in accordance with Section 7-601 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. The officer of the court shall also determine, on the date the period of court supervision is scheduled to terminate, whether the snowmobile was covered by the required policy during the entire period of court supervision.
(Source: P.A. 96-1291, eff. 4-1-11.)
