No more free vehicle stickers in Round Lake

Considering Round Lake last charged residents for vehicle sticker about 15 years ago, officials figure it's time to officially eliminate mention of them from the village code.

Village board members met to discuss the stickers as part of a nonvoting committee session Monday night. They agreed to officially eliminate the mention of the stickers from the village code, with a formal vote on the issue likely next month.

Trustee Michael Blum said Round Lake drivers who wanted the free stickers typically were those who visited Chicago. The idea was to fend off a potential ticket from Chicago police for not having a valid sticker on the windshield, he said.

“They assume the car is a Chicago-based car instead of a suburban-based car, Blum said.

Blum said no one has asked for a free Round Lake vehicle sticker in at least a year. He said it would cost about $400 to produce a new batch of free stickers.

Mayor James Dietz said the previous batch of stickers cost $333.75 in 2007, but they are no longer in stock.

“We're trying to cut whatever costs we can, Dietz said.

Dietz said the village won't consider using the stickers as a new revenue source. That isn't the case in other towns.

Wauconda officials have floated the idea of a $35 annual sticker, while Wheaton has toyed with bringing them back with a $25 fee attached.

Gurnee is among the towns where residents don't have to buy stickers for passenger car. However, the village has enacted regulations requiring a $25 sticker for owners of more than one recreational vehicle or haul trailer.

Lake Forest jacked up its vehicle sticker fee from $75 to $85 per year.

Dietz said it's been roughly 15 years since Round Lake last charged residents for vehicle stickers.