102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2536

 

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Thomas M. Bennett

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/1-101.8  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-102.02
625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Changes the definition of "all-terrain vehicle" to include vehicles 74 inches (instead of 50 inches) or less in width and with a manufacturer's dry weight of 3,000 (instead of 1,500) pounds or less. Provides that a person may operate an all-terrain vehicle or recreational off-highway vehicle on a roadway with a speed limit of 55 miles per hour or less (rather than 35 miles per hour or less) if the roadway is not State highway, federal highway, or within the boundaries of an incorporated area. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

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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
5changing Sections 1-101.8 and 11-1426.1 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/1-101.8)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 1-102.02)
7    Sec. 1-101.8. All-terrain vehicle. Any motorized
8off-highway device designed to travel primarily off-highway,
974 50 inches or less in width, having a manufacturer's dry
10weight of 3,000 1,500 pounds or less, traveling on 3 or more
11non-highway tires, designed with a seat or saddle for operator
12use, and handlebars or steering wheel for steering control,
13except equipment such as lawnmowers.
14(Source: P.A. 96-428, eff. 8-13-09.)
 
15    (625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1)
16    Sec. 11-1426.1. Operation of non-highway vehicles on
17streets, roads, and highways.
18    (a) As used in this Section, "non-highway vehicle" means a
19motor vehicle not specifically designed to be used on a public
20highway, including:
21        (1) an all-terrain vehicle, as defined by Section
22    1-101.8 of this Code;

 

 

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1        (2) a golf cart, as defined by Section 1-123.9;
2        (3) an off-highway motorcycle, as defined by Section
3    1-153.1; and
4        (4) a recreational off-highway vehicle, as defined by
5    Section 1-168.8.
6    (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, it is
7unlawful for any person to drive or operate a non-highway
8vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in this State. If
9the operation of a non-highway vehicle is authorized under
10subsection (d), the non-highway vehicle may be operated only
11on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or
12less. This subsection (b) does not prohibit a non-highway
13vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection
14where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than
1535 miles per hour.
16    (b-5) A person may not operate a non-highway vehicle upon
17any street, highway, or roadway in this State unless he or she
18has a valid driver's license issued in his or her name by the
19Secretary of State or by a foreign jurisdiction.
20    (c) No person operating a non-highway vehicle shall make a
21direct crossing upon or across any tollroad, interstate
22highway, or controlled access highway in this State. No person
23operating a non-highway vehicle shall make a direct crossing
24upon or across any other highway under the jurisdiction of the
25State except at an intersection of the highway with another
26public street, road, or highway.

 

 

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1    (c-5) (Blank).
2    (c-10) A person may operate an all-terrain vehicle or
3recreational off-highway vehicle on a roadway with a speed
4limit of 55 miles per hour or less if the roadway is not a
5State highway, federal highway, or within the boundaries of an
6incorporated area.
7    (d) A municipality, township, county, or other unit of
8local government may authorize, by ordinance or resolution,
9the operation of non-highway vehicles on roadways under its
10jurisdiction if the unit of local government determines that
11the public safety will not be jeopardized. The Department may
12authorize the operation of non-highway vehicles on the
13roadways under its jurisdiction if the Department determines
14that the public safety will not be jeopardized. The unit of
15local government or the Department may restrict the types of
16non-highway vehicles that are authorized to be used on its
17streets.
18    Before permitting the operation of non-highway vehicles on
19its roadways, a municipality, township, county, other unit of
20local government, or the Department must consider the volume,
21speed, and character of traffic on the roadway and determine
22whether non-highway vehicles may safely travel on or cross the
23roadway. Upon determining that non-highway vehicles may safely
24operate on a roadway and the adoption of an ordinance or
25resolution by a municipality, township, county, or other unit
26of local government, or authorization by the Department,

 

 

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1appropriate signs shall be posted.
2    If a roadway is under the jurisdiction of more than one
3unit of government, non-highway vehicles may not be operated
4on the roadway unless each unit of government agrees and takes
5action as provided in this subsection.
6    (e) No non-highway vehicle may be operated on a roadway
7unless, at a minimum, it has the following: brakes, a steering
8apparatus, tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning
9devices in the front and rear, a slow moving emblem (as
10required of other vehicles in Section 12-709 of this Code) on
11the rear of the non-highway vehicle, a headlight that emits a
12white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front, a
13tail lamp that emits a red light visible from at least 100 feet
14from the rear, brake lights, and turn signals. When operated
15on a roadway, a non-highway vehicle shall have its headlight
16and tail lamps lighted as required by Section 12-201 of this
17Code.
18    (f) A person who drives or is in actual physical control of
19a non-highway vehicle on a roadway while under the influence
20is subject to Sections 11-500 through 11-502 of this Code.
21    (g) Any person who operates a non-highway vehicle on a
22street, highway, or roadway shall be subject to the mandatory
23insurance requirements under Article VI of Chapter 7 of this
24Code.
25    (h) It shall not be unlawful for any person to drive or
26operate a non-highway vehicle, as defined in paragraphs (1)

 

 

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1and (4) of subsection (a) of this Section, on a county roadway
2or township roadway for the purpose of conducting farming
3operations to and from the home, farm, farm buildings, and any
4adjacent or nearby farm land.
5    Non-highway vehicles, as used in this subsection (h),
6shall not be subject to subsections (e) and (g) of this
7Section. However, if the non-highway vehicle, as used in this
8Section, is not covered under a motor vehicle insurance policy
9pursuant to subsection (g) of this Section, the vehicle must
10be covered under a farm, home, or non-highway vehicle
11insurance policy issued with coverage amounts no less than the
12minimum amounts set for bodily injury or death and for
13destruction of property under Section 7-203 of this Code.
14Non-highway vehicles operated on a county or township roadway
15at any time between one-half hour before sunset and one-half
16hour after sunrise must be equipped with head lamps and tail
17lamps, and the head lamps and tail lamps must be lighted.
18    Non-highway vehicles, as used in this subsection (h),
19shall not make a direct crossing upon or across any tollroad,
20interstate highway, or controlled access highway in this
21State.
22    Non-highway vehicles, as used in this subsection (h),
23shall be allowed to cross a State highway, municipal street,
24county highway, or road district highway if the operator of
25the non-highway vehicle makes a direct crossing provided:
26        (1) the crossing is made at an angle of approximately

 

 

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1    90 degrees to the direction of the street, road or highway
2    and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and
3    safe crossing;
4        (2) the non-highway vehicle is brought to a complete
5    stop before attempting a crossing;
6        (3) the operator of the non-highway vehicle yields the
7    right of way to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic which
8    constitutes a hazard; and
9        (4) that when crossing a divided highway, the crossing
10    is made only at an intersection of the highway with
11    another public street, road, or highway.
12    (i) No action taken by a unit of local government under
13this Section designates the operation of a non-highway vehicle
14as an intended or permitted use of property with respect to
15Section 3-102 of the Local Governmental and Governmental
16Employees Tort Immunity Act.
17(Source: P.A. 97-144, eff. 7-14-11; 98-567, eff. 1-1-14.)
 
18    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
19becoming law.