State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Engrossed ][ Enrolled ][ House Amendment 001 ]

90_HB0320

      625 ILCS 5/15-107         from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-107
          Amends  the  Illinois  Vehicle  Code  to   provide   that
      provisions  concerning  the load upon a vehicle not extending
      more than 3 feet beyond the front wheels  or  bumper  do  not
      apply  to  vehicles  designed  for  the  collection of waste,
      garbage, or recyclable materials.  Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9000448NTsb
                                               LRB9000448NTsb
 1        AN ACT to amend the Illinois  Vehicle  Code  by  changing
 2    Section 15-107.
 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section 5.  The  Illinois  Vehicle  Code  is  amended  by
 6    changing Section 15-107 as follows:
 7        (625 ILCS 5/15-107) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-107)
 8        Sec. 15-107.  Length of vehicles.
 9        (a)  Unless  otherwise  provided  for  in  this  Code, no
10    single  vehicle,  with  or  without  load,   other   than   a
11    semitrailer  that  is  not  a  housetrailer,  shall exceed an
12    overall length of 42 feet.
13        (b)  Subject to  the  provisions  of  paragraph  (f)  and
14    unless  otherwise provided in this Code, no truck tractor and
15    semitrailer, unladen or with load, except a semitrailer other
16    than a house trailer,  shall  exceed  a  length  of  55  feet
17    extreme  overall  dimension, except that the combination when
18    specially designed to transport motor  vehicles  may  have  a
19    length of 60 feet extreme overall dimension, subject to those
20    exceptions  and  special rules otherwise stated in this Code.
21    No other combination of vehicles, unladen or with load, shall
22    exceed a length of 60 feet extreme overall dimension.
23        (c)  A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one trailer, or
24    a converter dolly,  or  a  vehicle  that  is  special  mobile
25    equipment  if  the extreme length of the combination does not
26    exceed 60 feet, and a truck in transit may draw 3  trucks  in
27    transit  coupled  together  by the triple saddlemount method.
28    Except  as  otherwise  provided,  no  other  combinations  of
29    vehicles coupled  together  shall  consist  of  more  than  2
30    vehicles.  For  the  purposes  of this paragraph, a tow-dolly
31    that merely serves as substitute wheels for  another  legally
                            -2-                LRB9000448NTsb
 1    licensed  vehicle  will be considered part of the vehicle and
 2    not as a separate vehicle.
 3        Vehicles   in   combination,   whether   being   operated
 4    intrastate or interstate, shall  be  operated  and  towed  in
 5    compliance   with   all   requirements   of  Federal  Highway
 6    Administration, Title 49, C.  F.  R.,  Motor  Carrier  Safety
 7    Regulations,   pertaining  to  coupling  devices  and  towing
 8    methods and all other equipment safety requirements set forth
 9    in the regulations.
10        (d)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of  this  Code,
11    there  is  no  overall  length  limitation  on motor vehicles
12    operating   in    truck    tractor-semitrailer    or    truck
13    tractor-semitrailer-trailer    combinations,    except   that
14    maxi-cube combinations as defined  in  this  Section,  and  a
15    combination  of  vehicles  specifically designed to transport
16    motor vehicles or boats, shall not  exceed  65  feet  overall
17    length,  and  provided  that a stinger steered combination of
18    vehicles specifically designed to transport motor vehicles or
19    boats and a truck in transit transporting  3  trucks  coupled
20    together by the triple saddlemount method shall not exceed 75
21    feet overall length, with the length limitations inclusive of
22    front  and  rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the
23    transported vehicles as provided for in paragraph (i) of this
24    Section, upon the National System of Interstate  and  Defense
25    Highways  or  any  other  highways  in  the  system  of State
26    highways that have been designated Class I  highways  by  the
27    Department  or  any  street  or  highway  designated by local
28    authorities or road district commissioners; provided that the
29    length  of  the  semitrailer  unit,  unladen  or  with  load,
30    operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination shall not
31    exceed 53 feet and the distance between the kingpin  and  the
32    center  of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet
33    shall not exceed 45 feet, 6 inches;  and  provided  that  the
34    length  of  any semitrailer or trailer, unladen or with load,
                            -3-                LRB9000448NTsb
 1    operated in a truck  tractor-semitrailer-trailer  combination
 2    shall not exceed 28 feet 6 inches.
 3        The  length  limitations  described in this paragraph (d)
 4    shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
 5    such as rear view mirrors, turn signals, marker lamps,  steps
 6    and   handholds   for   entry  and  egress,  flexible  fender
 7    extensions,  bumpers,   mudflaps   and   splash   and   spray
 8    suppressant  devices,  load-induced tire bulge, refrigeration
 9    units  or  air  compressors  and  other  devices,  that   the
10    Department  may interpret as necessary for safe and efficient
11    operation;  except  that  no  device  excluded   under   this
12    paragraph  shall  have by its design or use the capability to
13    carry cargo.
14        Vehicles operating under this paragraph  (d)  shall  have
15    access  for a distance of one highway mile to or from a Class
16    I highway on any street or highway, unless there  is  a  sign
17    prohibiting  the  access,  or  5 highway miles on a street or
18    highway in the system of State highways, and upon any  street
19    or  highway  designated,  without  additional  fees, by local
20    authorities or road  district  commissioners,  to  points  of
21    loading  and unloading and facilities for food, fuel, repairs
22    and rest. Household  goods  carriers  shall  have  access  to
23    points of loading and unloading.
24        For  purposes  of this Section, a maxi-cube vehicle shall
25    be defined as a  combination  of  vehicles  consisting  of  a
26    truck-tractor,  upon  which  is  mounted  a  separable  cargo
27    carrying  semi-trailer,  and a trailing unit that is attached
28    by a pintle hook or similar connection,  with  the  separable
29    cargo  carrying  semi-trailer designed so as to be loaded and
30    unloaded through the trailing unit, except  that  the  entire
31    combination  shall  not  exceed  65  feet  in length and that
32    neither  the  semi-trailer  nor  the  trailing  unit  in  the
33    combination shall by itself exceed 34 feet in length.
34        Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
                            -4-                LRB9000448NTsb
 1    relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to  the
 2    designation of highways under this paragraph (d).
 3        (e)  In  addition  to  the  designation of highways under
 4    paragraph (d) the Department may designate other  streets  or
 5    highways  in  the  system  of  State  highways  as  Class  II
 6    highways.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code,
 7    effective  June 1, 1996 there is no overall length limitation
 8    on motor  vehicles  operating  in  truck  tractor-semitrailer
 9    combinations  operating  upon  designated  Class II highways,
10    provided the length of the semitrailer unit, unladen or  with
11    load,  operated  in  a  truck tractor-semitrailer combination
12    shall not exceed 53 feet and the distance between the kingpin
13    and the center of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer  than
14    48  feet  shall  not  exceed  45  feet,  6  inches.   A truck
15    tractor-semitrailer-trailer  combination  may   be   operated
16    provided  that  the wheelbase between the front axle and rear
17    axle shall  not  exceed  65   feet  and  the  length  of  any
18    semitrailer   or   trailer,   unladen  or  with  load,  in  a
19    combination  shall  not  exceed  28  feet  6  inches.   Local
20    authorities  and  road district commissioners with respect to
21    streets and highways under their jurisdiction,  may  also  by
22    ordinance  or resolution allow the length limitations of this
23    paragraph (e).
24        A maxi-cube combination, a truck in transit  transporting
25    3  trucks  coupled together by the triple saddlemount method,
26    and  a  combination  of  vehicles  specifically  designed  to
27    transport  motor  vehicles  or  boats  may  operate  on   the
28    designated  streets  or  highways provided the overall length
29    shall not exceed 65 feet, and provided that a stinger steered
30    combination of vehicles specifically  designed  to  transport
31    motor  vehicles  or  boats  shall  not exceed 75 feet overall
32    length, with the length limitations inclusive  of  front  and
33    rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the transported
34    vehicles as provided for in paragraph (i) of this Section.
                            -5-                LRB9000448NTsb
 1        The  length  limitations  described in this paragraph (e)
 2    shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
 3    such as rear view mirrors, turn signals, marker lamps,  steps
 4    and   handholds   for   entry  and  egress,  flexible  fender
 5    extensions,  bumpers,   mudflaps   and   splash   and   spray
 6    suppressant  devices,  load-induced tire bulge, refrigeration
 7    units  or  air  compressors  and  other  devices,  that   the
 8    Department  may interpret as necessary for safe and efficient
 9    operation;  except  that  no  device  excluded   under   this
10    paragraph  shall  have by its design or use the capability to
11    carry cargo.
12        Vehicles operating under this paragraph  (e)  shall  have
13    access  for  a  distance  of  5  highway miles on a street or
14    highway in the system of State highways, and upon any  street
15    or  highway  designated by local authorities or road district
16    commissioners, to points of  loading  and  unloading  and  to
17    facilities  for food, fuel, repairs and rest. Household goods
18    carriers  shall  have  access  to  points  of   loading   and
19    unloading.
20        Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
21    relating  to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
22    designation of highways under this paragraph (e).
23        (f)  On any street or highway  in  the  system  of  State
24    highways that has not been designated by the Department under
25    paragraph  (d)  or  (e), the wheelbase between the front axle
26    and the rear axle in a truck tractor-semitrailer  combination
27    shall not exceed 55 feet or, effective June 1, 1996, no truck
28    tractor  and  semitrailer,  unladen  or  with  load, except a
29    semitrailer other than a house trailer, shall exceed a length
30    of 65 feet between extreme overall dimensions, the length  of
31    the  semitrailer,  unladen  or with load, shall not exceed 53
32    feet and the distance between the kingpin and the  center  of
33    the  rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet shall not
34    exceed 42 feet, 6 inches. On any street  or  highway  in  the
                            -6-                LRB9000448NTsb
 1    State  system of highways that has not been designated by the
 2    Department   under   paragraph   (d)   or   (e),   no   truck
 3    tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination shall exceed a length
 4    of 60 feet extreme overall dimension.
 5        (g)  Length limitations in the preceding  subsections  of
 6    this  Section  15-107 shall not apply to vehicles operated in
 7    the daytime, except on Saturdays, Sundays or legal  holidays,
 8    when  transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of
 9    a structural nature that cannot readily be  dismembered,  nor
10    to vehicles transporting those objects operated on Saturdays,
11    Sundays or legal holidays or at nighttime by a public utility
12    when   required   for  emergency  repair  of  public  service
13    facilities  or  properties,  but  in  respect  to  the  night
14    operation  every  vehicle  and  the  load  thereon  shall  be
15    equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on  both
16    sides   and  marker  lamps  upon  the  extreme  ends  of  any
17    projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of  the  load,
18    provided  that  the  overall length of vehicle and load shall
19    not exceed 100 feet and no object exceeding 80 feet in length
20    shall  be  transported,  except  by  a  public  utility  when
21    required for emergency repairs, unless  a  permit  has  first
22    been  obtained as authorized in Section 15-301. A combination
23    of vehicles, including a tow truck and a disabled vehicle  or
24    disabled  combination  of  vehicles,  that exceeds the length
25    restriction imposed by this Code, may be operated on a public
26    highway in this State upon the following conditions:
27             (1)  The towing vehicle must be:
28                  a.  specifically designed as a tow truck having
29             a gross vehicle weight rating  of  at  least  18,000
30             lbs. and equipped with air brakes;
31                  b.  equipped   with   flashing,   rotating   or
32             oscillating  amber  lights,  visible for a least 500
33             feet in all directions; and
34                  c.  capable  of  utilizing  the  lighting   and
                            -7-                LRB9000448NTsb
 1             braking   systems   of   the   disabled  vehicle  or
 2             combination of vehicles.
 3             (2)  The towing of vehicles on the highways of  this
 4        State shall not exceed 50 miles from the initial point of
 5        wreck  or  disablement.  Any  additional  movement of the
 6        vehicles shall only occur upon issuance of  authorization
 7        for  that movement under the provisions of Section 15-301
 8        through 15-319 of this Chapter.
 9        The  Department  may  by  rule  or  regulation  prescribe
10    additional requirements regarding length  limitations  for  a
11    tow truck towing another vehicle.
12        For  the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
13    rating, or GVWR,  shall  mean  the  value  specified  by  the
14    manufacturer  as  the  loaded  weight of the tow truck. Legal
15    holidays referred to in this Section shall  be  specified  as
16    the  day  on  which  the  following  traditional holidays are
17    celebrated:
18        New Year's Day;
19        Memorial Day;
20        Independence Day;
21        Labor Day;
22        Thanksgiving Day; and
23        Christmas Day.
24        (h)  The load upon any vehicle  operated  alone,  or  the
25    load  upon  the  front  vehicle of a combination of vehicles,
26    shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the front wheels  of
27    the  vehicle  or  the  front  bumper  of the vehicle if it is
28    equipped  with  a  front  bumper.  The  provisions  of   this
29    subsection  (h) shall not apply to any vehicle or combination
30    of vehicles specifically  designed  for  the  collection  and
31    transportation  of  waste,  garbage,  or recyclable materials
32    during the vehicle's operation in the  course  of  collecting
33    garbage, waste, or recyclable materials.
34        (i)  The  load upon the front vehicle of a combination of
                            -8-                LRB9000448NTsb
 1    vehicles specifically designed to  transport  motor  vehicles
 2    shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the foremost part of
 3    the   transporting   vehicle  and  the  load  upon  the  rear
 4    transporting vehicle shall not extend more than 4 feet beyond
 5    the rear of the bed or body of the vehicle.   This  paragraph
 6    shall   only   be  applicable  upon  highways  designated  in
 7    paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section.
 8        (j)  Articulated  vehicles  comprised  of   2   sections,
 9    neither  of  which  exceeds a length of 42 feet, designed for
10    the carrying of more than 10 persons, may be up to 60 feet in
11    length, not including energy absorbing bumpers, provided that
12    the vehicles are:
13             1.  operated by or for  any  public  body  or  motor
14        carrier    authorized    by   law   to   provide   public
15        transportation services; or
16             2.  operated in local public transportation  service
17        by  any  other  person  and the municipality in which the
18        service is to be provided approved the operation  of  the
19        vehicle.
20        (j-1)  Charter  or  regulated route buses may be up to 45
21    feet in length, not including energy absorbing bumpers.
22        (k)  Any  person  who  is  convicted  of  violating  this
23    Section is subject to the penalty as  provided  in  paragraph
24    (b) of Section 15-113.
25        (l)  A  combination  of  3 vehicles not to exceed 60 feet
26    overall length may be operated on the highways of the  State,
27    provided that the vehicles meet the following requirements:
28             (1)  The  towing  vehicle  is  a properly registered
29        vehicle  capable  of  towing  another  vehicle  using   a
30        fifth-wheel type assembly.
31             (2)  The   second  vehicle  in  the  combination  of
32        vehicles shall be a recreational vehicle that is towed by
33        a fifth-wheel assembly. This vehicle  shall  be  properly
34        registered  and  be  equipped  with  brakes regardless of
                            -9-                LRB9000448NTsb
 1        weight.
 2             (3)  The third vehicle shall be the lightest of  the
 3        3  vehicles  and be a trailer or semi-trailer designed or
 4        used  for  transporting  a  boat,  all-terrain   vehicle,
 5        personal watercraft, or motorcycle.
 6             (4)  The  towed  vehicles may only be for the use of
 7        the operator of the towing vehicle.
 8             (5)  All vehicles shall be  properly  equipped  with
 9        operating  brakes  and  safety equipment required by this
10        Code,  except  the  additional   brake   requirement   in
11        paragraph (2) above.
12    (Source: P.A.  88-45;  88-384;  88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-219,
13    eff. 1-1-96; 89-434, eff. 6-1-96; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
14        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
15    becoming law.

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