June 19, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact Ibis Antongiorgi, Press Secretary to Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger, at 312-603-0396 or by email at iantongiorgi@cookcountygov.com. 

County Reminds Public About July 1 Deadline for Vehicle Stickers for Unincorporated Cook

June 18, 2007, Chicago – The Cook County Board Revenue Department has sent out reminders to residents in unincorporated Cook County to remember to renew or purchase vehicle stickers by July 1. A late penalty will be charged for stickers purchased after that date.

“We want to make sure that people remember to purchase and display their stickers, and that seniors in particular take advantage of the $5.00 reduced fee,” said County Board President Todd H. Stroger, whose office oversees the Cook County Department of Revenue, which administers the sticker program. Seniors may purchase a $5 sticker for up to 2 cars. The discount does not apply to trucks, motorcycles, or trailers.

Anyone living in unincorporated Cook County and owning a vehicle is required to purchase a Cook County Vehicle License, including a vehicle sticker for cars and trucks or vehicle plate for motorcycles and trailers. If you own a business in unincorporated Cook County and keep a vehicle there, you are also required to purchase a Cook County Vehicle License. Passenger vehicles, trucks and busses must display a current Cook County sticker in the bottom right hand corner of the windshield. Motorcycles and trailers must display a Cook County license plate on the rear end of the vehicle. Passenger vehicles weighing over 4,500 lbs are required to display an XLV (Large Vehicle) sticker. A qualified religious institution or charitable organization may be entitled to receive ‘Z’ class stickers at no charge for vehicles used to transport persons with disabilities.

Those purchasing a sticker after July 1st will be charged a late penalty equal to the price of the sticker or $25, whichever is greater, and may also be subject to additional penalties if the license is not displayed by July 1st.  The following license fees apply:

 Vehicle stickers can be picked up at the following Township offices:

The original Wheel Tax Ordinance was amended in December 2005 to increase fees, add late fees, and give the Cook County Sheriff's Police more enforcement powers, and amended again in June 2007 to clarify the amount of time new residents and residents with new vehicles have to purchase their stickers, as well as describe late fees in greater detail. Cook County Vehicle Licenses are valid from July 1st through June 30th of the following year.

Besides purchasing vehicle stickers at the township offices above, they may also be purchased directly from the Cook County Department of Revenue, County Building Room 1160, 118 N. Clark St., Chicago 60602.
 
For more information, contact Ibis Antongiorgi, Press Secretary to Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger, at 312-603-0396 or iantongiorgi@cookcountygov.com. 

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