Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 094-0949
Illinois General Assembly

Previous General Assemblies

Public Act 094-0949


 

Public Act 0949 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY



 


 
Public Act 094-0949
 
HB5506 Enrolled LRB094 17700 DRH 52998 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
Section 15-102 as follows:
 
    (625 ILCS 5/15-102)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-102)
    Sec. 15-102. Width of Vehicles.
    (a) On Class III and non-designated State and local
highways, the total outside width of any vehicle or load
thereon shall not exceed 8 feet.
    (b) Except during those times when, due to insufficient
light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and
vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a
distance of 1000 feet, the following vehicles may exceed the 8
feet limitation during the period from a half hour before
sunrise to a half hour after sunset:
        (1) Loads of hay, straw or other similar farm products
    provided that the load is not more than 12 feet wide.
        (2) Implements of husbandry being transported on
    another vehicle and the transporting vehicle while loaded.
        The following requirements apply to the transportation
    on another vehicle of an implement of husbandry wider than
    8 feet 6 inches on the National System of Interstate and
    Defense Highways or other highways in the system of State
    highways:
            (A) The driver of a vehicle transporting an
        implement of husbandry that exceeds 8 feet 6 inches in
        width shall obey all traffic laws and shall check the
        roadways prior to making a movement in order to ensure
        that adequate clearance is available for the movement.
        It is prima facie evidence that the driver of a vehicle
        transporting an implement of husbandry has failed to
        check the roadway prior to making a movement if the
        vehicle is involved in a collision with a bridge,
        overpass, fixed structure, or properly placed traffic
        control device or if the vehicle blocks traffic due to
        its inability to proceed because of a bridge, overpass,
        fixed structure, or properly placed traffic control
        device.
            (B) Flags shall be displayed so as to wave freely
        at the extremities of overwidth objects and at the
        extreme ends of all protrusions, projections, and
        overhangs. All flags shall be clean, bright red flags
        with no advertising, wording, emblem, or insignia
        inscribed upon them and at least 18 inches square.
            (C) "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs are mandatory on the
        front and rear of all vehicles with loads over 10 feet
        wide. These signs must have 12-inch high black letters
        with a 2-inch stroke on a yellow sign that is 7 feet
        wide by 18 inches high.
            (D) One civilian escort vehicle is required for a
        load that exceeds 14 feet 6 inches in width and 2
        civilian escort vehicles are required for a load that
        exceeds 16 feet in width on the National System of
        Interstate and Defense Highways or other highways in
        the system of State highways.
            (E) The requirements for a civilian escort vehicle
        and driver are as follows:
                (1) The civilian escort vehicle shall be a
            passenger car or a second division vehicle not
            exceeding a gross vehicle weight of 8,000 pounds
            that is designed to afford clear and unobstructed
            vision to both front and rear.
                (2) The escort vehicle driver must be properly
            licensed to operate the vehicle.
                (3) While in use, the escort vehicle must be
            equipped with illuminated rotating, oscillating,
            or flashing amber lights or flashing amber strobe
            lights mounted on top that are of sufficient
            intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal
            sunlight.
                (4) "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs are mandatory on all
            escort vehicles. The sign on an escort vehicle
            shall have 8-inch high black letters on a yellow
            sign that is 5 feet wide by 12 inches high.
                (5) When only one escort vehicle is required
            and it is operating on a two-lane highway, the
            escort vehicle shall travel approximately 300 feet
            ahead of the load. The rotating, oscillating, or
            flashing lights or flashing amber strobe lights
            and an "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign shall be displayed on
            the escort vehicle and shall be visible from the
            front. When only one escort vehicle is required and
            it is operating on a multilane divided highway, the
            escort vehicle shall travel approximately 300 feet
            behind the load and the sign and lights shall be
            visible from the rear.
                (6) When 2 escort vehicles are required, one
            escort shall travel approximately 300 feet ahead
            of the load and the second escort shall travel
            approximately 300 feet behind the load. The
            rotating, oscillating, or flashing lights or
            flashing amber strobe lights and an "OVERSIZE
            LOAD" sign shall be displayed on the escort
            vehicles and shall be visible from the front on the
            lead escort and from the rear on the trailing
            escort.
                (7) When traveling within the corporate limits
            of a municipality, the escort vehicle shall
            maintain a reasonable and proper distance from the
            oversize load, consistent with existing traffic
            conditions.
                (8) A separate escort shall be provided for
            each load hauled.
                (9) The driver of an escort vehicle shall obey
            all traffic laws.
                (10) The escort vehicle must be in safe
            operational condition.
                (11) The driver of the escort vehicle must be
            in radio contact with the driver of the vehicle
            carrying the oversize load.
            (F) A transport vehicle while under load of more
        than 8 feet 6 inches in width must be equipped with an
        illuminated rotating, oscillating, or flashing amber
        light or lights or a flashing amber strobe light or
        lights mounted on the top of the cab that are of
        sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in
        normal sunlight. If the load on the transport vehicle
        blocks the visibility of the amber lighting from the
        rear of the vehicle, the vehicle must also be equipped
        with an illuminated rotating, oscillating, or flashing
        amber light or lights or a flashing amber strobe light
        or lights mounted on the rear of the load that are of
        sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in
        normal sunlight.
            (G) When a flashing amber light is required on the
        transport vehicle under load and it is operating on a
        two-lane highway, the transport vehicle shall display
        to the rear at least one rotating, oscillating, or
        flashing light or a flashing amber strobe light and an
        "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign. When a flashing amber light is
        required on the transport vehicle under load and it is
        operating on a multilane divided highway, the sign and
        light shall be visible from the rear.
            (H) Maximum speed shall be 45 miles per hour on all
        such moves or 5 miles per hour above the posted minimum
        speed limit, whichever is greater, but the vehicle
        shall not at any time exceed the posted maximum speed
        limit.
        (3) Portable buildings designed and used for
    agricultural and livestock raising operations that are not
    more than 14 feet wide and with not more than a 1 foot
    overhang along the left side of the hauling vehicle.
    However, the buildings shall not be transported more than
    10 miles and not on any route that is part of the National
    System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
    All buildings when being transported shall display at least
2 red cloth flags, not less than 12 inches square, mounted as
high as practicable on the left and right side of the building.
    A State Police escort shall be required if it is necessary
for this load to use part of the left lane when crossing any 2
laned State highway bridge.
    (c) Vehicles propelled by electric power obtained from
overhead trolley wires operated wholly within the corporate
limits of a municipality are also exempt from the width
limitation.
    (d) Exemptions are also granted to vehicles designed for
the carrying of more than 10 persons under the following
conditions:
        (1) (Blank);
        (2) When operated within any public transportation
    service with the approval of local authorities or an
    appropriate public body authorized by law to provide public
    transportation. Any vehicle so operated may be 8 feet 6
    inches in width; or
        (3) When a county engineer or superintendent of
    highways, after giving due consideration to the mass
    transportation needs of the area and to the width and
    condition of the road, has determined that the operation of
    buses wider than 8 feet will not pose an undue safety
    hazard on a particular county or township road segment, he
    or she may authorize buses not to exceed 8 feet 6 inches in
    width on any highway under that engineer's or
    superintendent's jurisdiction.
    (d-1) A recreational vehicle, as defined in Section 1-169,
may exceed 8 feet 6 inches in width if:
        (1) the excess width is attributable to appurtenances
    that extend 6 inches or less beyond either side of the body
    of the vehicle; and
        (2) the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling has
    marked lanes for vehicular traffic that are at least 11
    feet in width.
    As used in this subsection (d-1) and in subsection (d-2),
the term appurtenance includes (i) a retracted awning and its
support hardware and (ii) any appendage that is intended to be
an integral part of a recreation vehicle.
    (d-2) A recreational vehicle that exceeds 8 feet 6 inches
in width as provided in subsection (d-1) may travel any roadway
of the State if the vehicle is being operated between a roadway
permitted under subsection (d-1) and:
        (1) the location where the recreation vehicle is
    garaged;
        (2) the destination of the recreation vehicle; or
        (3) a facility for food, fuel, repair, services, or
    rest.
    (e) A vehicle and load traveling upon the National System
of Interstate and Defense Highways or any other highway in the
system of State highways that has been designated as a Class I
or Class II highway by the Department, or any street or highway
designated by local authorities, may have a total outside width
of 8 feet 6 inches, provided that certain safety devices that
the Department determines as necessary for the safe and
efficient operation of motor vehicles shall not be included in
the calculation of width.
    (e-1) A vehicle and load more than 8 feet wide but not
exceeding 8 feet 6 inches in width is allowed access according
to the following:
        (1) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds in
    weight is allowed access from any State designated highway
    onto any county, township, or municipal highway for a
    distance of 5 highway miles for the purpose of loading and
    unloading, provided:
            (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 65 feet
        overall length.
            (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
            (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
        between State designated highways.
        (2) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds in
    weight is allowed access from any State designated highway
    onto any county or township highway for a distance of 5
    highway miles or onto any municipal highway for a distance
    of one highway mile for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs,
    and rest, provided:
            (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 65 feet
        overall length.
            (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
            (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
        between State designated highways.
        (3) A vehicle and load not exceeding 80,000 pounds in
    weight is allowed access from a Class I highway onto any
    street or highway for a distance of one highway mile for
    the purpose of loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and
    rest, provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
        (4) A vehicle and load not exceeding 80,000 pounds in
    weight is allowed access from a Class I or Class II highway
    onto any State highway or any locally designated highway
    for a distance of 5 highway miles for the purpose of
    loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest.
        (5) A trailer or semi-trailer not exceeding 28 feet 6
    inches in length, that was originally in combination with a
    truck tractor, shall have unlimited access to points of
    loading and unloading.
        (6) All household goods carriers shall have unlimited
    access to points of loading and unloading.
    Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
designation of highways under this paragraph (e).
    (f) Mirrors required by Section 12-502 of this Code and
other safety devices identified by the Department may project
up to 14 inches beyond each side of a bus and up to 6 inches
beyond each side of any other vehicle, and that projection
shall not be deemed a violation of the width restrictions of
this Section.
    (g) Any person who is convicted of violating this Section
is subject to the penalty as provided in paragraph (b) of
Section 15-113.
(Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02; 93-177, eff. 7-11-03.)

Effective Date: 1/1/2007