About this time of year mild southern breezes seem to set everything and everyone in motion. Modes of transportation, bicycles, motorcycles, skateboards, etc., proliferate. Pets and toddlers you never knew your neighbors had promenade up and down the street.

The sky suddenly is filled with balloons, frisbees, kites, errant golfballs and hot dog wrappers. Wanderlust abounds. No doubt about it, spring has sprung!

With this in mind, today’s column touches on the legal aspects of three topics: pets, bicycles and passports.

1. Do you have a dog or cat? If so, you might need a license for the critter.

Dogs and cats are not required to be registered with the city of DeKalb. The city of Sycamore requires that dogs, but not cats, be licensed. Rabies shots are necessary to obtain a license.

The Sycamore license costs $5 if purchased between January 1 and March 15. After March 15, the fee is $15 unless the dog is new (then it is $5). The license might be procured at the DeKalb City Clerk’s Office, 535 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore.

The DeKalb County Health Department requires that all dogs four months old or over receive a rabies vaccination at least yearly. Rabies shots are required whether or not you are required to have a license from a municipal government.

Rabies vaccination certificates are available from your veterinarian at the time you have your pet vaccinated, and cost $6.50 for one year and $16.50 for three years. If your dog was vaccinated outside of DeKalb County, you are required to send or bring the vaccination certificate to the County Health Department, 2337 Sycamore Road, to receive a current tag. Cats are also subject to contracting rabies, especially if they are outdoor cats. Vaccination is not required, however.

Dogs are not permitted to run at large within the DeKalb city limits, and must be leashed or tied at all times except when confined within or on the premises of the owner or keeper.

2. With the arrival of better weather, more bicycles will be taking to the road. What should one do to avoid a conflict with the law? If you reside in DeKalb, a license is required. It is free and is obtainable at the DeKalb Police Station, 200 South Fourth St. The owner must supply the make and model of the bicycle, as well as its serial number, wheel size and optional equipment.

Besides being required, registration is worthwhile because the information you provide can assist police to recover the bike if it is lost or stolen. Bicycles licensed after January 1, 1985, need not be re-registered until July 1, 1990. However, if you purchase a new bicycle, the new bike needs to be registered.

Keep in mind that traffic laws, highway signs and traffic control signals apply to bicycles as well as automobiles and other vehicles. The municipal ordinances for DeKalb provide special rules for bicycle riding, including the requirement that bicycle riders shall ride single file, not abreast, except on bicycle paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

It is unlawful for persons to ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district, and where otherwise prohibited by signs posted by authority of the Chief of Police. It is also unlawful to use a bicycle to carry more persons at one time than the number of persons the bike is designed and equipped to carry.

3. How do you get a passport? Passports can be applied for at the DeKalb County Clerk’s Office at the DeKalb County Administration Building, 110 East Sycamore St., in Sycamore.

You must have the following: an old passport or a certified copy of your birth certificate from the county or state where you were born (a naturalized citizen must show his naturalization papers): a driver’s license or a witness to your identity who has known you for at least two years; two passport photos, two by two inches showing the applicant’s face and having been taken within six months of the date submitted (must be identical photos).

Studio photos are recommended because machine photos are often inadequate. Apply at least one month in advance to ensure your passport will be ready when you need it. The passport fee is $35 for persons 18 years of age and older, and is renewable every 10 years. Your check or money order should be made out to the U.S. Passport Agency. For persons under the age of 18, the fee is $20. Passports for minors must be renewed after five years. There is also a $7 county service fee, this check should be made out to the DeKalb County Clerk.

If you fill out the passport application form in advance, be sure to use black ink, as the State Department will return the application if it cannot be legibly duplicated.

Don Henderson

Lynn Richards

Students’ Legal Services