HB4458 Enrolled LRB093 18441 DRH 44150 b

1     AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
5 changing Section 15-301 and by adding Section 15-308.3 as
6 follows:
 
7     (625 ILCS 5/15-301)   (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-301)
8     Sec. 15-301. Permits for excess size and weight.
9     (a) The Department with respect to highways under its
10 jurisdiction and local authorities with respect to highways
11 under their jurisdiction may, in their discretion, upon
12 application and good cause being shown therefor, issue a
13 special permit authorizing the applicant to operate or move a
14 vehicle or combination of vehicles of a size or weight of
15 vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in this Act or
16 otherwise not in conformity with this Act upon any highway
17 under the jurisdiction of the party granting such permit and
18 for the maintenance of which the party is responsible.
19 Applications and permits other than those in written or printed
20 form may only be accepted from and issued to the company or
21 individual making the movement. Except for an application to
22 move directly across a highway, it shall be the duty of the
23 applicant to establish in the application that the load to be
24 moved by such vehicle or combination is composed of a single
25 nondivisible object that cannot reasonably be dismantled or
26 disassembled. For the purpose of over length movements, more
27 than one object may be carried side by side as long as the
28 height, width, and weight laws are not exceeded and the cause
29 for the over length is not due to multiple objects. For the
30 purpose of over height movements, more than one object may be
31 carried as long as the cause for the over height is not due to
32 multiple objects and the length, width, and weight laws are not

 

 

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1 exceeded. For the purpose of an over width movement, more than
2 one object may be carried as long as the cause for the over
3 width is not due to multiple objects and length, height, and
4 weight laws are not exceeded. No state or local agency shall
5 authorize the issuance of excess size or weight permits for
6 vehicles and loads that are divisible and that can be carried,
7 when divided, within the existing size or weight maximums
8 specified in this Chapter. Any excess size or weight permit
9 issued in violation of the provisions of this Section shall be
10 void at issue and any movement made thereunder shall not be
11 authorized under the terms of the void permit. In any
12 prosecution for a violation of this Chapter when the
13 authorization of an excess size or weight permit is at issue,
14 it is the burden of the defendant to establish that the permit
15 was valid because the load to be moved could not reasonably be
16 dismantled or disassembled, or was otherwise nondivisible.
17     (b) The application for any such permit shall: (1) state
18 whether such permit is requested for a single trip or for
19 limited continuous operation; (2) state if the applicant is an
20 authorized carrier under the Illinois Motor Carrier of Property
21 Law, if so, his certificate, registration or permit number
22 issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission; (3) specifically
23 describe and identify the vehicle or vehicles and load to be
24 operated or moved except that for vehicles or vehicle
25 combinations registered by the Department as provided in
26 Section 15-319 of this Chapter, only the Illinois Department of
27 Transportation's (IDT) registration number or classification
28 need be given; (4) state the routing requested including the
29 points of origin and destination, and may identify and include
30 a request for routing to the nearest certified scale in
31 accordance with the Department's rules and regulations,
32 provided the applicant has approval to travel on local roads;
33 and (5) state if the vehicles or loads are being transported
34 for hire. No permits for the movement of a vehicle or load for
35 hire shall be issued to any applicant who is required under the
36 Illinois Motor Carrier of Property Law to have a certificate,

 

 

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1 registration or permit and does not have such certificate,
2 registration or permit.
3     (c) The Department or local authority when not inconsistent
4 with traffic safety is authorized to issue or withhold such
5 permit at its discretion; or, if such permit is issued at its
6 discretion to prescribe the route or routes to be traveled, to
7 limit the number of trips, to establish seasonal or other time
8 limitations within which the vehicles described may be operated
9 on the highways indicated, or otherwise to limit or prescribe
10 conditions of operations of such vehicle or vehicles, when
11 necessary to assure against undue damage to the road
12 foundations, surfaces or structures, and may require such
13 undertaking or other security as may be deemed necessary to
14 compensate for any injury to any roadway or road structure. The
15 Department shall maintain a daily record of each permit issued
16 along with the fee and the stipulated dimensions, weights,
17 conditions and restrictions authorized and this record shall be
18 presumed correct in any case of questions or dispute. The
19 Department shall install an automatic device for recording
20 applications received and permits issued by telephone. In
21 making application by telephone, the Department and applicant
22 waive all objections to the recording of the conversation.
23     (d) The Department shall, upon application in writing from
24 any local authority, issue an annual permit authorizing the
25 local authority to move oversize highway construction,
26 transportation, utility and maintenance equipment over roads
27 under the jurisdiction of the Department. The permit shall be
28 applicable only to equipment and vehicles owned by or
29 registered in the name of the local authority, and no fee shall
30 be charged for the issuance of such permits.
31     (e) As an exception to paragraph (a) of this Section, the
32 Department and local authorities, with respect to highways
33 under their respective jurisdictions, in their discretion and
34 upon application in writing may issue a special permit for
35 limited continuous operation, authorizing the applicant to
36 move loads of sweet corn, soybeans, corn, wheat, milo, other

 

 

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1 small grains and ensilage during the harvest season only on a 2
2 axle single vehicle registered by the Secretary of State with
3 axle loads not to exceed 35% above those provided in Section
4 15-111. Permits may be issued for a period not to exceed 40
5 days and moves may be made of a distance not to exceed 25 miles
6 from a field to a specified processing plant over any highway
7 except the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
8 All such vehicles shall be operated in the daytime except when
9 weather or crop conditions require emergency operation at
10 night, but with respect to such night operation, every such
11 vehicle with load shall be equipped with flashing amber lights
12 as specified under Section 12-215. Upon a declaration by the
13 Governor that an emergency harvest situation exists, a special
14 permit issued by the Department under this Section shall not be
15 required from September 1 through December 31 during harvest
16 season emergencies, provided that the weight does not exceed
17 20% above the limits provided in Section 15-111. All other
18 restrictions that apply to permits issued under this Section
19 shall apply during the declared time period. With respect to
20 highways under the jurisdiction of local authorities, the local
21 authorities may, at their discretion, waive special permit
22 requirements during harvest season emergencies. This permit
23 exemption shall apply to all vehicles eligible to obtain
24 permits under this Section, including commercial vehicles in
25 use during the declared time period.
26     (f) The form and content of the permit shall be determined
27 by the Department with respect to highways under its
28 jurisdiction and by local authorities with respect to highways
29 under their jurisdiction. Every permit shall be in written form
30 and carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which
31 it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer
32 or authorized agent of any authority granting the permit and no
33 person shall violate any of the terms or conditions of such
34 special permit. Violation of the terms and conditions of the
35 permit shall not be deemed a revocation of the permit; however,
36 any vehicle and load found to be off the route prescribed in

 

 

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1 the permit shall be held to be operating without a permit. Any
2 off route vehicle and load shall be required to obtain a new
3 permit or permits, as necessary, to authorize the movement back
4 onto the original permit routing. No rule or regulation, nor
5 anything herein shall be construed to authorize any police
6 officer, court, or authorized agent of any authority granting
7 the permit to remove the permit from the possession of the
8 permittee unless the permittee is charged with a fraudulent
9 permit violation as provided in paragraph (i). However, upon
10 arrest for an offense of violation of permit, operating without
11 a permit when the vehicle is off route, or any size or weight
12 offense under this Chapter when the permittee plans to raise
13 the issuance of the permit as a defense, the permittee, or his
14 agent, must produce the permit at any court hearing concerning
15 the alleged offense.
16     If the permit designates and includes a routing to a
17 certified scale, the permittee, while en route to the
18 designated scale, shall be deemed in compliance with the weight
19 provisions of the permit provided the axle or gross weights do
20 not exceed any of the permitted limits by more than the
21 following amounts:
22         Single axle               2000 pounds
23         Tandem axle               3000 pounds
24         Gross                     5000 pounds
25     (g) The Department is authorized to adopt, amend, and to
26 make available to interested persons a policy concerning
27 reasonable rules, limitations and conditions or provisions of
28 operation upon highways under its jurisdiction in addition to
29 those contained in this Section for the movement by special
30 permit of vehicles, combinations, or loads which cannot
31 reasonably be dismantled or disassembled, including
32 manufactured and modular home sections and portions thereof.
33 All rules, limitations and conditions or provisions adopted in
34 the policy shall have due regard for the safety of the
35 traveling public and the protection of the highway system and
36 shall have been promulgated in conformity with the provisions

 

 

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1 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The requirements
2 of the policy for flagmen and escort vehicles shall be the same
3 for all moves of comparable size and weight. When escort
4 vehicles are required, they shall meet the following
5 requirements:
6         (1) All operators shall be 18 years of age or over and
7     properly licensed to operate the vehicle.
8         (2) Vehicles escorting oversized loads more than
9     12-feet wide must be equipped with a rotating or flashing
10     amber light mounted on top as specified under Section
11     12-215.
12     The Department shall establish reasonable rules and
13 regulations regarding liability insurance or self insurance
14 for vehicles with oversized loads promulgated under The
15 Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Police vehicles may be
16 required for escort under circumstances as required by rules
17 and regulations of the Department.
18     (h) Violation of any rule, limitation or condition or
19 provision of any permit issued in accordance with the
20 provisions of this Section shall not render the entire permit
21 null and void but the violator shall be deemed guilty of
22 violation of permit and guilty of exceeding any size, weight or
23 load limitations in excess of those authorized by the permit.
24 The prescribed route or routes on the permit are not mere
25 rules, limitations, conditions, or provisions of the permit,
26 but are also the sole extent of the authorization granted by
27 the permit. If a vehicle and load are found to be off the route
28 or routes prescribed by any permit authorizing movement, the
29 vehicle and load are operating without a permit. Any off route
30 movement shall be subject to the size and weight maximums,
31 under the applicable provisions of this Chapter, as determined
32 by the type or class highway upon which the vehicle and load
33 are being operated.
34     (i) Whenever any vehicle is operated or movement made under
35 a fraudulent permit the permit shall be void, and the person,
36 firm, or corporation to whom such permit was granted, the

 

 

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1 driver of such vehicle in addition to the person who issued
2 such permit and any accessory, shall be guilty of fraud and
3 either one or all persons may be prosecuted for such violation.
4 Any person, firm, or corporation committing such violation
5 shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony and the Department shall
6 not issue permits to the person, firm or corporation convicted
7 of such violation for a period of one year after the date of
8 conviction. Penalties for violations of this Section shall be
9 in addition to any penalties imposed for violation of other
10 Sections of this Act.
11     (j) Whenever any vehicle is operated or movement made in
12 violation of a permit issued in accordance with this Section,
13 the person to whom such permit was granted, or the driver of
14 such vehicle, is guilty of such violation and either, but not
15 both, persons may be prosecuted for such violation as stated in
16 this subsection (j). Any person, firm or corporation convicted
17 of such violation shall be guilty of a petty offense and shall
18 be fined for the first offense, not less than $50 nor more than
19 $200 and, for the second offense by the same person, firm or
20 corporation within a period of one year, not less than $200 nor
21 more than $300 and, for the third offense by the same person,
22 firm or corporation within a period of one year after the date
23 of the first offense, not less than $300 nor more than $500 and
24 the Department shall not issue permits to the person, firm or
25 corporation convicted of a third offense during a period of one
26 year after the date of conviction for such third offense.
27     (k) Whenever any vehicle is operated on local roads under
28 permits for excess width or length issued by local authorities,
29 such vehicle may be moved upon a State highway for a distance
30 not to exceed one-half mile without a permit for the purpose of
31 crossing the State highway.
32     (l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section,
33 the Department, with respect to highways under its
34 jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways
35 under their jurisdiction, may at their discretion authorize the
36 movement of a vehicle in violation of any size or weight

 

 

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1 requirement, or both, that would not ordinarily be eligible for
2 a permit, when there is a showing of extreme necessity that the
3 vehicle and load should be moved without unnecessary delay.
4     For the purpose of this subsection, showing of extreme
5 necessity shall be limited to the following: shipments of
6 livestock, hazardous materials, liquid concrete being hauled
7 in a mobile cement mixer, or hot asphalt.
8     (m) Penalties for violations of this Section shall be in
9 addition to any penalties imposed for violating any other
10 Section of this Code.
11     (n) The Department with respect to highways under its
12 jurisdiction and local authorities with respect to highways
13 under their jurisdiction, in their discretion and upon
14 application in writing, may issue a special permit for
15 continuous limited operation, authorizing the applicant to
16 operate a tow-truck that exceeds the weight limits provided for
17 in subsection (d) of Section 15-111, provided:
18         (1) no rear single axle of the tow-truck exceeds 26,000
19     pounds;
20         (2) no rear tandem axle of the tow-truck exceeds 50,000
21     pounds;
22         (3) neither the disabled vehicle nor the disabled
23     combination of vehicles exceed the weight restrictions
24     imposed by this Chapter 15, or the weight limits imposed
25     under a permit issued by the Department prior to hookup;
26         (4) the tow-truck prior to hookup does not exceed the
27     weight restrictions imposed by this Chapter 15;
28         (5) during the tow operation the tow-truck does not
29     violate any weight restriction sign;
30         (6) the tow-truck is equipped with flashing, rotating,
31     or oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet
32     in all directions;
33         (7) the tow-truck is specifically designed and
34     licensed as a tow-truck;
35         (8) the tow-truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of
36     sufficient capacity to safely handle the load;

 

 

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1         (9) the tow-truck is equipped with air brakes;
2         (10) the tow-truck is capable of utilizing the lighting
3     and braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination
4     of vehicles;
5         (11) the tow distance of the tow does not exceed 50
6     miles from the point of disablement to a place of repair or
7     safekeeping;
8         (12) the permit issued to the tow-truck is carried in
9     the tow-truck and exhibited on demand by a police officer;
10     and
11         (13) the movement shall be valid only on state routes
12     approved by the Department.
13     (o) The Department, with respect to highways under its
14 jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways
15 under their jurisdiction, in their discretion and upon
16 application in writing, may issue a special permit for
17 continuous limited operation, authorizing the applicant to
18 transport raw milk that exceeds the weight limits provided for
19 in subsections (b) and (f) of Section 15-111 of this Code,
20 provided:
21         (1) no single axle exceeds 20,000 pounds;
22         (2) no gross weight exceeds 80,000 pounds;
23         (3) permits issued by the State are good only for
24     federal and State highways and are not applicable to
25     interstate highways; and
26         (4) all road and bridge postings must be obeyed.
27 (Source: P.A. 90-89, eff. 1-1-98; 90-228, eff. 7-25-97; 90-655,
28 eff. 7-30-98; 90-676, eff. 7-31-98; 91-569, eff. 1-1-00.)
 
29     (625 ILCS 5/15-308.3 new)
30     Sec. 15-308.3 Fees for special permits to transport raw
31 milk. The fee for a special permit to transport raw milk is
32 $12.50 quarterly and $50.00 annually.