State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Introduced ][ House Amendment 001 ]

90_SB1031eng

      625 ILCS 5/15-107         from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-107
          Amends the Illinois Vehicle  Code  to  make  a  stylistic
      change  to a caption in a provision concerning vehicle length
      requirements.
                                                     LRB9003502NTsb
SB1031 Engrossed                               LRB9003502NTsb
 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.  Vehicle 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
SB1031 Engrossed            -2-                LRB9003502NTsb
 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,
SB1031 Engrossed            -3-                LRB9003502NTsb
 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
SB1031 Engrossed            -4-                LRB9003502NTsb
 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.
SB1031 Engrossed            -5-                LRB9003502NTsb
 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
SB1031 Engrossed            -6-                LRB9003502NTsb
 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
SB1031 Engrossed            -7-                LRB9003502NTsb
 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.
29        (i)  The load upon the front vehicle of a combination  of
30    vehicles  specifically  designed  to transport motor vehicles
31    shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the foremost part of
32    the  transporting  vehicle  and  the  load  upon   the   rear
33    transporting vehicle shall not extend more than 4 feet beyond
34    the  rear  of the bed or body of the vehicle.  This paragraph
SB1031 Engrossed            -8-                LRB9003502NTsb
 1    shall  only  be  applicable  upon  highways   designated   in
 2    paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section.
 3        (j)  Articulated   vehicles   comprised  of  2  sections,
 4    neither of which exceeds a length of 42  feet,  designed  for
 5    the carrying of more than 10 persons, may be up to 60 feet in
 6    length, not including energy absorbing bumpers, provided that
 7    the vehicles are:
 8             1.  operated  by  or  for  any  public body or motor
 9        carrier   authorized   by   law   to    provide    public
10        transportation services; or
11             2.  operated  in local public transportation service
12        by any other person and the  municipality  in  which  the
13        service  is  to be provided approved the operation of the
14        vehicle.
15        (j-1)  Charter or regulated route buses may be up  to  45
16    feet in length, not including energy absorbing bumpers.
17        (k)  Any  person  who  is  convicted  of  violating  this
18    Section  is  subject  to the penalty as provided in paragraph
19    (b) of Section 15-113.
20        (l)  A combination of 3 vehicles not to  exceed  60  feet
21    overall  length may be operated on the highways of the State,
22    provided that the vehicles meet the following requirements:
23             (1)  The towing vehicle  is  a  properly  registered
24        vehicle   capable  of  towing  another  vehicle  using  a
25        fifth-wheel type assembly.
26             (2)  The  second  vehicle  in  the  combination   of
27        vehicles shall be a recreational vehicle that is towed by
28        a  fifth-wheel  assembly.  This vehicle shall be properly
29        registered and be  equipped  with  brakes  regardless  of
30        weight.
31             (3)  The  third vehicle shall be the lightest of the
32        3 vehicles and be a trailer or semi-trailer  designed  or
33        used   for  transporting  a  boat,  all-terrain  vehicle,
34        personal watercraft, or motorcycle.
SB1031 Engrossed            -9-                LRB9003502NTsb
 1             (4)  The towed vehicles may only be for the  use  of
 2        the operator of the towing vehicle.
 3             (5)  All  vehicles  shall  be properly equipped with
 4        operating brakes and safety equipment  required  by  this
 5        Code,   except   the   additional  brake  requirement  in
 6        paragraph (2) above.
 7    (Source: P.A. 88-45; 88-384; 88-670,  eff.  12-2-94;  89-219,
 8    eff. 1-1-96; 89-434, eff. 6-1-96; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)

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