Illinois to sell off-highway recreation stamps

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois officials say they will improve all-terrain vehicle recreational access by selling usage stamps beginning early next year.

The Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that $15 “off-highway vehicle” stamps will be issued by approved vendors along with hunting and fishing licenses.

They will be valid from April 1 through March 31, 2015.

DNR officials say the stamps should raise as much as $800,000 annually to develop public-access trails for off-highway vehicles. That will bring in another $1 million in available federal funds for motorized trail development and maintenance.

Stamps must be displayed on the front half of off-highway vehicles including all-terrain vehicles and cross-country motorcycles.

Standard golf carts, commercial vehicles and others are exempt.

Stamp buyers must also pay 50 cents to the vendor.