101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB1870

 

Introduced , by Rep. Jim Durkin

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/15-301  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-301

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning permits for excess size and weight.


LRB101 05759 TAE 50775 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1870LRB101 05759 TAE 50775 b

1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5Section 15-301 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/15-301)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-301)
7    Sec. 15-301. Permits for for excess size and weight.
8    (a) The Department with respect to highways under its
9jurisdiction and local authorities with respect to highways
10under their jurisdiction may, in their discretion, upon
11application and good cause being shown therefor, issue a
12special permit authorizing the applicant to operate or move a
13vehicle or combination of vehicles of a size or weight of
14vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in this Code
15Act or otherwise not in conformity with this Code Act upon any
16highway under the jurisdiction of the party granting such
17permit and for the maintenance of which the party is
18responsible. Applications and permits other than those in
19written or printed form may only be accepted from and issued to
20the company or individual making the movement. Except for an
21application to move directly across a highway, it shall be the
22duty of the applicant to establish in the application that the
23load to be moved by such vehicle or combination cannot

 

 

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1reasonably be dismantled or disassembled, the reasonableness
2of which shall be determined by the Secretary of the
3Department. For the purpose of over length movements, more than
4one object may be carried side by side as long as the height,
5width, and weight laws are not exceeded and the cause for the
6over length is not due to multiple objects. For the purpose of
7over height movements, more than one object may be carried as
8long as the cause for the over height is not due to multiple
9objects and the length, width, and weight laws are not
10exceeded. For the purpose of an over width movement, more than
11one object may be carried as long as the cause for the over
12width is not due to multiple objects and length, height, and
13weight laws are not exceeded. Except for transporting fluid
14milk products, no State or local agency shall authorize the
15issuance of excess size or weight permits for vehicles and
16loads that are divisible and that can be carried, when divided,
17within the existing size or weight maximums specified in this
18Chapter. Any excess size or weight permit issued in violation
19of the provisions of this Section shall be void at issue and
20any movement made thereunder shall not be authorized under the
21terms of the void permit. In any prosecution for a violation of
22this Chapter when the authorization of an excess size or weight
23permit is at issue, it is the burden of the defendant to
24establish that the permit was valid because the load to be
25moved could not reasonably be dismantled or disassembled, or
26was otherwise nondivisible.

 

 

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1    (b) The application for any such permit shall: (1) state
2whether such permit is requested for a single trip or for
3limited continuous operation; (2) state if the applicant is an
4authorized carrier under the Illinois Motor Carrier of Property
5Law, if so, his certificate, registration, or permit number
6issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission; (3) specifically
7describe and identify the vehicle or vehicles and load to be
8operated or moved; (4) state the routing requested, including
9the points of origin and destination, and may identify and
10include a request for routing to the nearest certified scale in
11accordance with the Department's rules and regulations,
12provided the applicant has approval to travel on local roads;
13and (5) state if the vehicles or loads are being transported
14for hire. No permits for the movement of a vehicle or load for
15hire shall be issued to any applicant who is required under the
16Illinois Motor Carrier of Property Law to have a certificate,
17registration, or permit and does not have such certificate,
18registration, or permit.
19    (c) The Department or local authority when not inconsistent
20with traffic safety is authorized to issue or withhold such
21permit at its discretion; or, if such permit is issued at its
22discretion to prescribe the route or routes to be traveled, to
23limit the number of trips, to establish seasonal or other time
24limitations within which the vehicles described may be operated
25on the highways indicated, or otherwise to limit or prescribe
26conditions of operations of such vehicle or vehicles, when

 

 

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1necessary to assure against undue damage to the road
2foundations, surfaces or structures, and may require such
3undertaking or other security as may be deemed necessary to
4compensate for any injury to any roadway or road structure. The
5Department shall maintain a daily record of each permit issued
6along with the fee and the stipulated dimensions, weights,
7conditions, and restrictions authorized and this record shall
8be presumed correct in any case of questions or dispute. The
9Department shall install an automatic device for recording
10applications received and permits issued by telephone. In
11making application by telephone, the Department and applicant
12waive all objections to the recording of the conversation.
13    (d) The Department shall, upon application in writing from
14any local authority, issue an annual permit authorizing the
15local authority to move oversize highway construction,
16transportation, utility, and maintenance equipment over roads
17under the jurisdiction of the Department. The permit shall be
18applicable only to equipment and vehicles owned by or
19registered in the name of the local authority, and no fee shall
20be charged for the issuance of such permits.
21    (e) As an exception to subsection (a) of this Section, the
22Department and local authorities, with respect to highways
23under their respective jurisdictions, in their discretion and
24upon application in writing, may issue a special permit for
25limited continuous operation, authorizing the applicant to
26move loads of agricultural commodities on a 2-axle single

 

 

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1vehicle registered by the Secretary of State with axle loads
2not to exceed 35%, on a 3-axle or 4-axle vehicle registered by
3the Secretary of State with axle loads not to exceed 20%, and
4on a 5-axle vehicle registered by the Secretary of State not to
5exceed 10% above those provided in Section 15-111. The total
6gross weight of the vehicle, however, may not exceed the
7maximum gross weight of the registration class of the vehicle
8allowed under Section 3-815 or 3-818 of this Code.
9    As used in this Section, "agricultural commodities" means:
10        (1) cultivated plants or agricultural produce grown,
11    including, but not limited to, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats,
12    grain sorghum, canola, and rice;
13        (2) livestock, including, but not limited to, hogs,
14    equine, sheep, and poultry;
15        (3) ensilage; and
16        (4) fruits and vegetables.
17    Permits may be issued for a period not to exceed 40 days
18and moves may be made of a distance not to exceed 50 miles from
19a field, an on-farm grain storage facility, a warehouse as
20defined in the Grain Code, or a livestock management facility
21as defined in the Livestock Management Facilities Act over any
22highway except the National System of Interstate and Defense
23Highways. The operator of the vehicle, however, must abide by
24posted bridge and posted highway weight limits. All implements
25of husbandry operating under this Section between sunset and
26sunrise shall be equipped as prescribed in Section 12-205.1.

 

 

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1    (e-1) A special permit shall be issued by the Department
2under this Section and shall be required from September 1
3through December 31 for a vehicle that exceeds the maximum axle
4weight and gross weight limits under Section 15-111 of this
5Code or exceeds the vehicle's registered gross weight, provided
6that the vehicle's axle weight and gross weight do not exceed
710% above the maximum limits under Section 15-111 of this Code
8and does not exceed the vehicle's registered gross weight by
910%. All other restrictions that apply to permits issued under
10this Section shall apply during the declared time period and no
11fee shall be charged for the issuance of those permits. Permits
12issued by the Department under this subsection (e-1) are only
13valid on federal and State highways under the jurisdiction of
14the Department, except interstate highways. With respect to
15highways under the jurisdiction of local authorities, the local
16authorities may, at their discretion, waive special permit
17requirements, and set a divisible load weight limit not to
18exceed 10% above a vehicle's registered gross weight, provided
19that the vehicle's axle weight and gross weight do not exceed
2010% above the maximum limits specified in Section 15-111.
21Permits issued under this subsection (e-1) shall apply to all
22registered vehicles eligible to obtain permits under this
23Section, including vehicles used in private or for-hire
24movement of divisible load agricultural commodities during the
25declared time period.
26    (f) The form and content of the permit shall be determined

 

 

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1by the Department with respect to highways under its
2jurisdiction and by local authorities with respect to highways
3under their jurisdiction. Every permit shall be in written form
4and carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which
5it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer
6or authorized agent of any authority granting the permit and no
7person shall violate any of the terms or conditions of such
8special permit. Violation of the terms and conditions of the
9permit shall not be deemed a revocation of the permit; however,
10any vehicle and load found to be off the route prescribed in
11the permit shall be held to be operating without a permit. Any
12off-route off route vehicle and load shall be required to
13obtain a new permit or permits, as necessary, to authorize the
14movement back onto the original permit routing. No rule or
15regulation, nor anything herein, shall be construed to
16authorize any police officer, court, or authorized agent of any
17authority granting the permit to remove the permit from the
18possession of the permittee unless the permittee is charged
19with a fraudulent permit violation as provided in subsection
20(i). However, upon arrest for an offense of violation of
21permit, operating without a permit when the vehicle is off
22route, or any size or weight offense under this Chapter when
23the permittee plans to raise the issuance of the permit as a
24defense, the permittee, or his agent, must produce the permit
25at any court hearing concerning the alleged offense.
26    If the permit designates and includes a routing to a

 

 

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1certified scale, the permittee, while en route enroute to the
2designated scale, shall be deemed in compliance with the weight
3provisions of the permit provided the axle or gross weights do
4not exceed any of the permitted limits by more than the
5following amounts:
6        Single axle               2000 pounds
7        Tandem axle               3000 pounds
8        Gross                     5000 pounds
9    (g) The Department is authorized to adopt, amend, and to
10make available to interested persons a policy concerning
11reasonable rules, limitations and conditions or provisions of
12operation upon highways under its jurisdiction in addition to
13those contained in this Section for the movement by special
14permit of vehicles, combinations, or loads which cannot
15reasonably be dismantled or disassembled, including
16manufactured and modular home sections and portions thereof.
17All rules, limitations and conditions or provisions adopted in
18the policy shall have due regard for the safety of the
19traveling public and the protection of the highway system and
20shall have been promulgated in conformity with the provisions
21of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The requirements
22of the policy for flagmen and escort vehicles shall be the same
23for all moves of comparable size and weight. When escort
24vehicles are required, they shall meet the following
25requirements:
26        (1) All operators shall be 18 years of age or over and

 

 

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1    properly licensed to operate the vehicle.
2        (2) Vehicles escorting oversized loads more than 12
3    feet 12-feet wide must be equipped with a rotating or
4    flashing amber light mounted on top as specified under
5    Section 12-215.
6    The Department shall establish reasonable rules and
7regulations regarding liability insurance or self insurance
8for vehicles with oversized loads promulgated under the
9Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Police vehicles may be
10required for escort under circumstances as required by rules
11and regulations of the Department.
12    (h) Violation of any rule, limitation or condition or
13provision of any permit issued in accordance with the
14provisions of this Section shall not render the entire permit
15null and void but the violator shall be deemed guilty of
16violation of permit and guilty of exceeding any size, weight,
17or load limitations in excess of those authorized by the
18permit. The prescribed route or routes on the permit are not
19mere rules, limitations, conditions, or provisions of the
20permit, but are also the sole extent of the authorization
21granted by the permit. If a vehicle and load are found to be
22off the route or routes prescribed by any permit authorizing
23movement, the vehicle and load are operating without a permit.
24Any off-route movement shall be subject to the size and weight
25maximums, under the applicable provisions of this Chapter, as
26determined by the type or class highway upon which the vehicle

 

 

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1and load are being operated.
2    (i) Whenever any vehicle is operated or movement made under
3a fraudulent permit, the permit shall be void, and the person,
4firm, or corporation to whom such permit was granted, the
5driver of such vehicle in addition to the person who issued
6such permit and any accessory, shall be guilty of fraud and
7either one or all persons may be prosecuted for such violation.
8Any person, firm, or corporation committing such violation
9shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony and the Department shall
10not issue permits to the person, firm, or corporation convicted
11of such violation for a period of one year after the date of
12conviction. Penalties for violations of this Section shall be
13in addition to any penalties imposed for violation of other
14Sections of this Code.
15    (j) Whenever any vehicle is operated or movement made in
16violation of a permit issued in accordance with this Section,
17the person to whom such permit was granted, or the driver of
18such vehicle, is guilty of such violation and either, but not
19both, persons may be prosecuted for such violation as stated in
20this subsection (j). Any person, firm, or corporation convicted
21of such violation shall be guilty of a petty offense and shall
22be fined, for the first offense, not less than $50 nor more
23than $200 and, for the second offense by the same person, firm,
24or corporation within a period of one year, not less than $200
25nor more than $300 and, for the third offense by the same
26person, firm, or corporation within a period of one year after

 

 

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1the date of the first offense, not less than $300 nor more than
2$500 and the Department may, in its discretion descretion, not
3issue permits to the person, firm, or corporation convicted of
4a third offense during a period of one year after the date of
5conviction or supervision for such third offense. If any
6violation is the cause or contributing cause in a motor vehicle
7accident causing damage to property, injury, or death to a
8person, the Department may, in its discretion, not issue a
9permit to the person, firm, or corporation for a period of one
10year after the date of conviction or supervision for the
11offense.
12    (k) Whenever any vehicle is operated on local roads under
13permits for excess width or length issued by local authorities,
14such vehicle may be moved upon a State highway for a distance
15not to exceed one-half mile without a permit for the purpose of
16crossing the State highway.
17    (l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section,
18the Department, with respect to highways under its
19jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways
20under their jurisdiction, may at their discretion authorize the
21movement of a vehicle in violation of any size or weight
22requirement, or both, that would not ordinarily be eligible for
23a permit, when there is a showing of extreme necessity that the
24vehicle and load should be moved without unnecessary delay.
25    For the purpose of this subsection, showing of extreme
26necessity shall be limited to the following: shipments of

 

 

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1livestock, hazardous materials, liquid concrete being hauled
2in a mobile cement mixer, or hot asphalt.
3    (m) Penalties for violations of this Section shall be in
4addition to any penalties imposed for violating any other
5Section of this Code.
6    (n) The Department with respect to highways under its
7jurisdiction and local authorities with respect to highways
8under their jurisdiction, in their discretion and upon
9application in writing, may issue a special permit for
10continuous limited operation, authorizing the applicant to
11operate a tow truck that exceeds the weight limits provided for
12in subsection (a) of Section 15-111, provided:
13        (1) no rear single axle of the tow truck exceeds 26,000
14    pounds;
15        (2) no rear tandem axle of the tow truck exceeds 50,000
16    pounds;
17        (2.1) no triple rear axle on a manufactured recovery
18    unit exceeds 60,000 pounds;
19        (3) neither the disabled vehicle nor the disabled
20    combination of vehicles exceed the weight restrictions
21    imposed by this Chapter 15, or the weight limits imposed
22    under a permit issued by the Department prior to hookup;
23        (4) the tow truck prior to hookup does not exceed the
24    weight restrictions imposed by this Chapter 15;
25        (5) during the tow operation the tow truck does not
26    violate any weight restriction sign;

 

 

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1        (6) the tow truck is equipped with flashing, rotating,
2    or oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet
3    in all directions;
4        (7) the tow truck is specifically designed and licensed
5    as a tow truck;
6        (8) the tow truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of
7    sufficient capacity to safely handle the load;
8        (9) the tow truck is equipped with air brakes;
9        (10) the tow truck is capable of utilizing the lighting
10    and braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination
11    of vehicles;
12        (11) the tow commences at the initial point of wreck or
13    disablement and terminates at a point where the repairs are
14    actually to occur;
15        (12) the permit issued to the tow truck is carried in
16    the tow truck and exhibited on demand by a police officer;
17    and
18        (13) the movement shall be valid only on State routes
19    approved by the Department.
20    (o) (Blank).
21    (p) In determining whether a load may be reasonably
22dismantled or disassembled for the purpose of subsection (a),
23the Department shall consider whether there is a significant
24negative impact on the condition of the pavement and structures
25along the proposed route, whether the load or vehicle as
26proposed causes a safety hazard to the traveling public,

 

 

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1whether dismantling or disassembling the load promotes or
2stifles economic development, and whether the proposed route
3travels less than 5 miles. A load is not required to be
4dismantled or disassembled for the purposes of subsection (a)
5if the Secretary of the Department determines there will be no
6significant negative impact to pavement or structures along the
7proposed route, the proposed load or vehicle causes no safety
8hazard to the traveling public, dismantling or disassembling
9the load does not promote economic development, and the
10proposed route travels less than 5 miles. The Department may
11promulgate rules for the purpose of establishing the
12divisibility of a load pursuant to subsection (a). Any load
13determined by the Secretary to be nondivisible shall otherwise
14comply with the existing size or weight maximums specified in
15this Chapter.
16(Source: P.A. 99-717, eff. 8-5-16; 100-70, eff. 8-11-17;
17100-728, eff. 1-1-19; 100-830, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff.
188-14-18; 100-1090, eff. 1-1-19; revised 10-9-18.)