Recent legislation requires ...

Snowmobiles Must Be Registered

Snowmobile registration is now required in Illinois, on passage of recent legislation. Applications for registration are available from the Department of Conservation, 106 State Office Building, 401 South Spring Street, Springfield, Illinois 62706.

The fee for the two year period is six dollars. A decal number will be issued for each registration number. The completed application form must be signed and accompanied by the fee.

A digest of the Illinois Snowmobile registration and safety act is also available from the Department of Conservation. Some of the regulations : Whenever a snowmobile is involved in a collision or accident causing injury or death to persons or property damage over $100 a report must be made to the Department. All snowmobile accidents which result in death or serious injury shall be reported within 48 hours. All other accidents must be reported within five days.

Equipment required includes at least one white head-lamp, at least one red tail lamp, a brake system in good mechanical condition, reflective material of 16 square inches mounted on each side of the cowlingand adequate sound suppression equipment.

Safety requirements include: no driving in a careless, reckless or negligent manner or under the influence of intoxicating beverages or narcotic or dangerous drugs. Other restrictions include no driving within one mile of a nature preserve, on the tracks or right of way of an operating railroad, in any tree nursery, or on private property without the consent of the owner or lessee thereof.

Other stringent regulations in regard to crossing highways are listed in the digest available from the Department of Conservation.

The law provides for fine of $25 to $500 and/or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 30 days.

State properties with snowmobile trails include Mississippi Palisades, Hennepin Canal, Lake Le-Aqua-Na, Rock Cut, Illinois Beach, Chain O'Lakes, Johnson Sauk Trail, Kick-apoo, Silver Springs, Kankakee River, Starved Rock state parks. White Pines, Argyle Lake, and Apple River Canyon state parks were removed from the list of parks used last year due to lack of area for additional trail expansion.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 November/December, 1971