Re: [Paddlewise] Registration of watercraft

A couple of comments as I'm familiar with the Illinois situation.

1.  Not only is boat registration a tax issue, each state also
gets Federal money  based on the number of registered boats in
the state.  Don't know the details of the Federal match monies,
but the IL DNR told us this when we were fighting the
registration law in '88.

2.  One may visit Illinois from a state that doesn't require
registration, and not have to worry about getting a ticket for
non-registration.  Again, this was a comment from  DNR staffers
in 1988, while the text from the link below states "...Watercraft
shall not be required to be registered and titled under this Act
if it is  ......  Already covered by a number in full force and
effect from another state, if such boat will not be used within
this State for a period in excess of 60 consecutive days."
 You would no doubt have to prove your non-resident status,
though.  I live in IN, and have been waiting to get stopped for
lack of boat registration in IL for 14 years - just for the
amusement factor - but so far I've been unlucky.  I know the
situation is different in MN, as even out-of-staters with no
home-state registration law must have a boat registration sticker
to paddle the Boundary Waters.

the Illinois boat registration law (excerpted) is available
online - see
http://ws1.coopfish.siu.edu/Stat_rul/ILLREG.htm

Regards,
Erik Sprenne


> James Tibensky wrote:
> >
> > Here in Illinois one must prove that the sales tax was paid
before
> > registration is allowed.  Since registration of a kayak costs
less than the
> > cost of processing the application, the whole thing is a tax
issue.  For
> > boats purchased out of state, the difference between sales
tax paid and the
> > Illinois rate must be paid, unless more was paid out of
state.
> >
> > But for a few bucks, it isn't so bad.
>

Peter Rathman wrote:
> Any idea what the procedure is for out-of-state vacationers who
want to
> use their kayaks in Illinois but who come from a state where
kayaks are
> not registered?
>

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