Nonresidents are not affected. They will continue to purchase the $8 daily or $29 annual nonresident vehicle entry permit from DNRE. 2010 DNRE motor vehicle permits purchased through September 30, 2010 are valid through December 31, 2010.

Secretary of State branch offices began issuing the Recreational Passport on Friday, October 1. Vehicle owners have the option to pay the Recreation Passport fee with original and renewal motor vehicle registrations. The Passport can also be purchased when renewing by mail, renewing by Internet, and using Self-Service Stations. When purchased, "Recreation Passport" will print on the registration. Also, the letter "P" will print on the year tab. This will allow the vehicle to enter all state parks and state-operated public boating access sites during the time the registration is valid.

While most motor vehicles, including motorcycles, are eligible for the Recreation Passport, buses and large trucks are not eligible. Trailer coaches and trailers are not defined as motor vehicles and are not eligible. Vehicles registered with multi-year plates (e.g., Disabled Veteran, Historical, nonprofit "Y", etc.) are also not eligible.

The law exempts dealers (including CVR dealers) from the Recreation Passport program. Recreation Passports need not be sold with RD-108s. However, if a dealer transfers a customer's plate that has the Recreation Passport on it, the Recreation Passport will carry forward to the transfer registration processed for the newly-acquired vehicle. Current CVR programming does not offer the sale of the Recreation Passport; however, the Recreation Passport indicator will carry forward on the record if a registration bearing the indicator transferred through the CVR system. An upcoming programming update will provide dealers on the program with an option to allow customers to add the Recreation Passport to the purchase of original or a renewal/transfer registration.

If a dealer affixes a note to an RD-108 stating the customer wants to purchase the Recreation Passport with an original plate or renewal/transfer plate and includes the extra $10, the Recreation Passport can be issued at the branch when processing the RD-108. The dealer should include the fee on line 5 of the RD-108 under non-taxable items and list it under the remarks section of the RD-108.

View a sample registration and tab indicating the "Recreation Passport" legend on the registration and the "P" on the vehicle tab here.