Public Act 100-1090
 
HB5749 EnrolledLRB100 18124 LNS 33319 b

    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
Sections 15-301 and 15-312 as follows:
 
    (625 ILCS 5/15-301)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-301)
    Sec. 15-301. Permits for excess size and weight.
    (a) The Department with respect to highways under its
jurisdiction and local authorities with respect to highways
under their jurisdiction may, in their discretion, upon
application and good cause being shown therefor, issue a
special permit authorizing the applicant to operate or move a
vehicle or combination of vehicles of a size or weight of
vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in this Act or
otherwise not in conformity with this Act upon any highway
under the jurisdiction of the party granting such permit and
for the maintenance of which the party is responsible.
Applications and permits other than those in written or printed
form may only be accepted from and issued to the company or
individual making the movement. Except for an application to
move directly across a highway, it shall be the duty of the
applicant to establish in the application that the load to be
moved by such vehicle or combination cannot reasonably be
dismantled or disassembled, the reasonableness of which shall
be determined by the Secretary of the Department. For the
purpose of over length movements, more than one object may be
carried side by side as long as the height, width, and weight
laws are not exceeded and the cause for the over length is not
due to multiple objects. For the purpose of over height
movements, more than one object may be carried as long as the
cause for the over height is not due to multiple objects and
the length, width, and weight laws are not exceeded. For the
purpose of an over width movement, more than one object may be
carried as long as the cause for the over width is not due to
multiple objects and length, height, and weight laws are not
exceeded. Except for transporting fluid milk products, no State
or local agency shall authorize the issuance of excess size or
weight permits for vehicles and loads that are divisible and
that can be carried, when divided, within the existing size or
weight maximums specified in this Chapter. Any excess size or
weight permit issued in violation of the provisions of this
Section shall be void at issue and any movement made thereunder
shall not be authorized under the terms of the void permit. In
any prosecution for a violation of this Chapter when the
authorization of an excess size or weight permit is at issue,
it is the burden of the defendant to establish that the permit
was valid because the load to be moved could not reasonably be
dismantled or disassembled, or was otherwise nondivisible.
    (b) The application for any such permit shall: (1) state
whether such permit is requested for a single trip or for
limited continuous operation; (2) state if the applicant is an
authorized carrier under the Illinois Motor Carrier of Property
Law, if so, his certificate, registration or permit number
issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission; (3) specifically
describe and identify the vehicle or vehicles and load to be
operated or moved except that for vehicles or vehicle
combinations registered by the Department as provided in
Section 15-319 of this Chapter, only the Illinois Department of
Transportation's (IDT) registration number or classification
need be given; (4) state the routing requested including the
points of origin and destination, and may identify and include
a request for routing to the nearest certified scale in
accordance with the Department's rules and regulations,
provided the applicant has approval to travel on local roads;
and (5) state if the vehicles or loads are being transported
for hire. No permits for the movement of a vehicle or load for
hire shall be issued to any applicant who is required under the
Illinois Motor Carrier of Property Law to have a certificate,
registration or permit and does not have such certificate,
registration or permit.
    (c) The Department or local authority when not inconsistent
with traffic safety is authorized to issue or withhold such
permit at its discretion; or, if such permit is issued at its
discretion to prescribe the route or routes to be traveled, to
limit the number of trips, to establish seasonal or other time
limitations within which the vehicles described may be operated
on the highways indicated, or otherwise to limit or prescribe
conditions of operations of such vehicle or vehicles, when
necessary to assure against undue damage to the road
foundations, surfaces or structures, and may require such
undertaking or other security as may be deemed necessary to
compensate for any injury to any roadway or road structure. The
Department shall maintain a daily record of each permit issued
along with the fee and the stipulated dimensions, weights,
conditions and restrictions authorized and this record shall be
presumed correct in any case of questions or dispute. The
Department shall install an automatic device for recording
applications received and permits issued by telephone. In
making application by telephone, the Department and applicant
waive all objections to the recording of the conversation.
    (d) The Department shall, upon application in writing from
any local authority, issue an annual permit authorizing the
local authority to move oversize highway construction,
transportation, utility and maintenance equipment over roads
under the jurisdiction of the Department. The permit shall be
applicable only to equipment and vehicles owned by or
registered in the name of the local authority, and no fee shall
be charged for the issuance of such permits.
    (e) As an exception to subsection paragraph (a) of this
Section, the Department and local authorities, with respect to
highways under their respective jurisdictions, in their
discretion and upon application in writing may issue a special
permit for limited continuous operation, authorizing the
applicant to move loads of agricultural commodities on a 2-axle
2 axle single vehicle registered by the Secretary of State with
axle loads not to exceed 35%, on a 3-axle or 4-axle 3 or 4 axle
vehicle registered by the Secretary of State with axle loads
not to exceed 20%, and on a 5-axle 5 axle vehicle registered by
the Secretary of State not to exceed 10% above those provided
in Section 15-111. The total gross weight of the vehicle,
however, may not exceed the maximum gross weight of the
registration class of the vehicle allowed under Section 3-815
or 3-818 of this Code.
    As used in this Section, "agricultural commodities" means:
        (1) cultivated plants or agricultural produce grown
    including, but is not limited to, corn, soybeans, wheat,
    oats, grain sorghum, canola, and rice;
        (2) livestock, including, but not limited to, hogs,
    equine, sheep, and poultry;
        (3) ensilage; and
        (4) fruits and vegetables.
    Permits may be issued for a period not to exceed 40 days
and moves may be made of a distance not to exceed 50 miles from
a field, an on-farm grain storage facility, a warehouse as
defined in the Illinois Grain Code, or a livestock management
facility as defined in the Livestock Management Facilities Act
over any highway except the National System of Interstate and
Defense Highways. The operator of the vehicle, however, must
abide by posted bridge and posted highway weight limits. All
implements of husbandry operating under this Section between
sunset and sunrise shall be equipped as prescribed in Section
12-205.1.
    (e-1) A Upon a declaration by the Governor that an
emergency harvest situation exists, a special permit shall be
issued by the Department under this Section and shall be
required from September 1 through December 31 during harvest
season emergencies for a vehicle that exceeds the maximum axle
weight and gross weight limits under Section 15-111 of this
Code or exceeds the vehicle's registered gross weight, provided
that the vehicle's axle weight and gross weight do not exceed
10% above the maximum limits under Section 15-111 of this Code
and does not exceed the vehicle's registered gross weight by
10%. All other restrictions that apply to permits issued under
this Section shall apply during the declared time period and no
fee shall be charged for the issuance of those permits. Permits
issued by the Department under this subsection (e-1) are only
valid on federal and State highways under the jurisdiction of
the Department, except interstate highways. With respect to
highways under the jurisdiction of local authorities, the local
authorities may, at their discretion, waive special permit
requirements during harvest season emergencies, and set a
divisible load weight limit not to exceed 10% above a vehicle's
registered gross weight, provided that the vehicle's axle
weight and gross weight do not exceed 10% above the maximum
limits specified in Section 15-111. Permits issued under this
subsection (e-1) shall apply to all registered vehicles
eligible to obtain permits under this Section, including
vehicles used in private or for-hire movement of divisible load
agricultural commodities during the declared time period.
    (f) The form and content of the permit shall be determined
by the Department with respect to highways under its
jurisdiction and by local authorities with respect to highways
under their jurisdiction. Every permit shall be in written form
and carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which
it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer
or authorized agent of any authority granting the permit and no
person shall violate any of the terms or conditions of such
special permit. Violation of the terms and conditions of the
permit shall not be deemed a revocation of the permit; however,
any vehicle and load found to be off the route prescribed in
the permit shall be held to be operating without a permit. Any
off route vehicle and load shall be required to obtain a new
permit or permits, as necessary, to authorize the movement back
onto the original permit routing. No rule or regulation, nor
anything herein shall be construed to authorize any police
officer, court, or authorized agent of any authority granting
the permit to remove the permit from the possession of the
permittee unless the permittee is charged with a fraudulent
permit violation as provided in subsection paragraph (i).
However, upon arrest for an offense of violation of permit,
operating without a permit when the vehicle is off route, or
any size or weight offense under this Chapter when the
permittee plans to raise the issuance of the permit as a
defense, the permittee, or his agent, must produce the permit
at any court hearing concerning the alleged offense.
    If the permit designates and includes a routing to a
certified scale, the permittee, while enroute to the designated
scale, shall be deemed in compliance with the weight provisions
of the permit provided the axle or gross weights do not exceed
any of the permitted limits by more than the following amounts:
        Single axle               2000 pounds
        Tandem axle               3000 pounds
        Gross                     5000 pounds
    (g) The Department is authorized to adopt, amend, and to
make available to interested persons a policy concerning
reasonable rules, limitations and conditions or provisions of
operation upon highways under its jurisdiction in addition to
those contained in this Section for the movement by special
permit of vehicles, combinations, or loads which cannot
reasonably be dismantled or disassembled, including
manufactured and modular home sections and portions thereof.
All rules, limitations and conditions or provisions adopted in
the policy shall have due regard for the safety of the
traveling public and the protection of the highway system and
shall have been promulgated in conformity with the provisions
of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The requirements
of the policy for flagmen and escort vehicles shall be the same
for all moves of comparable size and weight. When escort
vehicles are required, they shall meet the following
requirements:
        (1) All operators shall be 18 years of age or over and
    properly licensed to operate the vehicle.
        (2) Vehicles escorting oversized loads more than
    12-feet wide must be equipped with a rotating or flashing
    amber light mounted on top as specified under Section
    12-215.
    The Department shall establish reasonable rules and
regulations regarding liability insurance or self insurance
for vehicles with oversized loads promulgated under the
Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Police vehicles may be
required for escort under circumstances as required by rules
and regulations of the Department.
    (h) Violation of any rule, limitation or condition or
provision of any permit issued in accordance with the
provisions of this Section shall not render the entire permit
null and void but the violator shall be deemed guilty of
violation of permit and guilty of exceeding any size, weight or
load limitations in excess of those authorized by the permit.
The prescribed route or routes on the permit are not mere
rules, limitations, conditions, or provisions of the permit,
but are also the sole extent of the authorization granted by
the permit. If a vehicle and load are found to be off the route
or routes prescribed by any permit authorizing movement, the
vehicle and load are operating without a permit. Any off-route
off route movement shall be subject to the size and weight
maximums, under the applicable provisions of this Chapter, as
determined by the type or class highway upon which the vehicle
and load are being operated.
    (i) Whenever any vehicle is operated or movement made under
a fraudulent permit the permit shall be void, and the person,
firm, or corporation to whom such permit was granted, the
driver of such vehicle in addition to the person who issued
such permit and any accessory, shall be guilty of fraud and
either one or all persons may be prosecuted for such violation.
Any person, firm, or corporation committing such violation
shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony and the Department shall
not issue permits to the person, firm or corporation convicted
of such violation for a period of one year after the date of
conviction. Penalties for violations of this Section shall be
in addition to any penalties imposed for violation of other
Sections of this Code Act.
    (j) Whenever any vehicle is operated or movement made in
violation of a permit issued in accordance with this Section,
the person to whom such permit was granted, or the driver of
such vehicle, is guilty of such violation and either, but not
both, persons may be prosecuted for such violation as stated in
this subsection (j). Any person, firm or corporation convicted
of such violation shall be guilty of a petty offense and shall
be fined for the first offense, not less than $50 nor more than
$200 and, for the second offense by the same person, firm or
corporation within a period of one year, not less than $200 nor
more than $300 and, for the third offense by the same person,
firm or corporation within a period of one year after the date
of the first offense, not less than $300 nor more than $500 and
the Department shall not issue permits to the person, firm or
corporation convicted of a third offense during a period of one
year after the date of conviction for such third offense.
    (k) Whenever any vehicle is operated on local roads under
permits for excess width or length issued by local authorities,
such vehicle may be moved upon a State highway for a distance
not to exceed one-half mile without a permit for the purpose of
crossing the State highway.
    (l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section,
the Department, with respect to highways under its
jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways
under their jurisdiction, may at their discretion authorize the
movement of a vehicle in violation of any size or weight
requirement, or both, that would not ordinarily be eligible for
a permit, when there is a showing of extreme necessity that the
vehicle and load should be moved without unnecessary delay.
    For the purpose of this subsection, showing of extreme
necessity shall be limited to the following: shipments of
livestock, hazardous materials, liquid concrete being hauled
in a mobile cement mixer, or hot asphalt.
    (m) Penalties for violations of this Section shall be in
addition to any penalties imposed for violating any other
Section of this Code.
    (n) The Department with respect to highways under its
jurisdiction and local authorities with respect to highways
under their jurisdiction, in their discretion and upon
application in writing, may issue a special permit for
continuous limited operation, authorizing the applicant to
operate a tow truck tow-truck that exceeds the weight limits
provided for in subsection (a) of Section 15-111, provided:
        (1) no rear single axle of the tow truck tow-truck
    exceeds 26,000 pounds;
        (2) no rear tandem axle of the tow truck tow-truck
    exceeds 50,000 pounds;
        (2.1) no triple rear axle on a manufactured recovery
    unit exceeds 60,000 pounds;
        (3) neither the disabled vehicle nor the disabled
    combination of vehicles exceed the weight restrictions
    imposed by this Chapter 15, or the weight limits imposed
    under a permit issued by the Department prior to hookup;
        (4) the tow truck tow-truck prior to hookup does not
    exceed the weight restrictions imposed by this Chapter 15;
        (5) during the tow operation the tow truck tow-truck
    does not violate any weight restriction sign;
        (6) the tow truck tow-truck is equipped with flashing,
    rotating, or oscillating amber lights, visible for at least
    500 feet in all directions;
        (7) the tow truck tow-truck is specifically designed
    and licensed as a tow truck tow-truck;
        (8) the tow truck tow-truck has a gross vehicle weight
    rating of sufficient capacity to safely handle the load;
        (9) the tow truck tow-truck is equipped with air
    brakes;
        (10) the tow truck tow-truck is capable of utilizing
    the lighting and braking systems of the disabled vehicle or
    combination of vehicles;
        (11) the tow commences at the initial point of wreck or
    disablement and terminates at a point where the repairs are
    actually to occur;
        (12) the permit issued to the tow truck tow-truck is
    carried in the tow truck tow-truck and exhibited on demand
    by a police officer; and
        (13) the movement shall be valid only on State state
    routes approved by the Department.
    (o) (Blank).
    (p) In determining whether a load may be reasonably
dismantled or disassembled for the purpose of subsection
paragraph (a), the Department shall consider whether there is a
significant negative impact on the condition of the pavement
and structures along the proposed route, whether the load or
vehicle as proposed causes a safety hazard to the traveling
public, whether dismantling or disassembling the load promotes
or stifles economic development and whether the proposed route
travels less than 5 miles. A load is not required to be
dismantled or disassembled for the purposes of subsection
paragraph (a) if the Secretary of the Department determines
there will be no significant negative impact to pavement or
structures along the proposed route, the proposed load or
vehicle causes no safety hazard to the traveling public,
dismantling or disassembling the load does not promote economic
development and the proposed route travels less than 5 miles.
The Department may promulgate rules for the purpose of
establishing the divisibility of a load pursuant to subsection
paragraph (a). Any load determined by the Secretary to be
nondivisible shall otherwise comply with the existing size or
weight maximums specified in this Chapter.
(Source: P.A. 99-717, eff. 8-5-16; 100-70, eff. 8-11-17;
revised 10-12-17.)
 
    (625 ILCS 5/15-312)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-312)
    Sec. 15-312. Fees for Police Escort. When State Police
escorts are required by the Department of Transportation for
the safety of the motoring public, the following fees shall be
paid by the applicant:
        (1) to the Department of Transportation: $40 per hour
    per vehicle based upon the pre-estimated time of the
    movement to be agreed upon between the Department and the
    applicant, with a minimum fee of $80 per vehicle; and
        (2) to the Illinois State Police: $75 $60 per hour per
    State Police vehicle based upon the actual time of the
    movement, with a minimum fee of $300 per State Police
    vehicle. The Illinois State Police shall remit the moneys
    to the State Treasurer, who shall deposit the moneys into
    the Over Dimensional Load Police Escort Fund.
    The actual time of the movement shall be the time the
police escort is required to pick up the movement to the time
the movement is completed. Any delays or breakdowns shall be
considered part of the movement time. Any fraction of an hour
shall be rounded up to the next whole hour.
(Source: P.A. 95-787, eff. 1-1-09.)