The Illinois Department of Natural Resources wants money for a boat sticker, but for at least three years hasn’t been mailing out renewal notices.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources boat registration application.

And, there was no notice sent informing boat owners that notices would no longer be sent.

Three years ago, less than three weeks before the expiration of our sticker I panicked and used the internet to order a boat sticker.

Even so, the sticker had not come by the end of June.

When I called I was told that using the internet, even with the extra $4 charge to a–would you believe?–Kentucky company (the only bidder) would not get me higher in the processing line.

I was asked if I hadn’t kept a copy of my registration application.

I had none, having used an iPad.

Three years later and it’s the same drill.

This time I am mailing the application and keeping a copy on the boat, just in case the sticker arrives after June 30th and the Crystal Lake Boat Patrol notices that mine is out of date.