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April 1, 2005

Penelope Campbell

Illinois Secretary Of State Jesse White Announces
New Motorcycle Registration System

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that beginning today, all new motorcycle registrations will be renewed one year from the month in which they were first obtained.

Previously, all motorcycle registrations were renewed in March.

"This new system will make it easier for motorcycle owners to renew their registrations," said White. "We are glad to be working with them to streamline the process."

Under the old system, if a motorcycle registration was first obtained in any month other than March, the owner paid a pro-rated amount until the following March, when the registration would be renewed.

Now, the month in which a registration is first secured will be its renewal month for the duration of the time the vehicle is registered. By staggering the registrations, processing time should be decreased.

The new motorcycle registration system is the result of a joint effort between White and the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association. As of March 2005, there were 272,598 motorcycles registered in Illinois.