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91_HB3005
LRB9107030KSgc
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
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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,
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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 Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
25 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
26 designation of highways under this paragraph (d).
27 (e) In addition to the designation of highways under
28 paragraph (d) the Department may designate other streets or
29 highways in the system of State highways as Class II
30 highways. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code,
31 effective June 1, 1996 there is no overall length limitation
32 on motor vehicles operating in truck tractor-semitrailer
33 combinations operating upon designated Class II highways,
34 provided the length of the semitrailer unit, unladen or with
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1 load, operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination
2 shall not exceed 53 feet and the distance between the kingpin
3 and the center of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than
4 48 feet shall not exceed 45 feet, 6 inches. A truck
5 tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination may be operated
6 provided that the wheelbase between the front axle and rear
7 axle shall not exceed 65 feet and the length of any
8 semitrailer or trailer, unladen or with load, in a
9 combination shall not exceed 28 feet 6 inches. Local
10 authorities and road district commissioners with respect to
11 streets and highways under their jurisdiction, may also by
12 ordinance or resolution allow the length limitations of this
13 paragraph (e).
14 A maxi-cube combination, a truck in transit transporting
15 3 trucks coupled together by the triple saddlemount method,
16 and a combination of vehicles specifically designed to
17 transport motor vehicles or boats may operate on the
18 designated streets or highways provided the overall length
19 shall not exceed 65 feet, and provided that a stinger steered
20 combination of vehicles specifically designed to transport
21 motor vehicles or boats shall not exceed 75 feet overall
22 length, with the length limitations inclusive of front and
23 rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the transported
24 vehicles as provided for in paragraph (i) of this Section.
25 The length limitations described in this paragraph (e)
26 shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
27 such as rear view mirrors, turn signals, marker lamps, steps
28 and handholds for entry and egress, flexible fender
29 extensions, bumpers, mudflaps and splash and spray
30 suppressant devices, load-induced tire bulge, refrigeration
31 units or air compressors and other devices, that the
32 Department may interpret as necessary for safe and efficient
33 operation; except that no device excluded under this
34 paragraph shall have by its design or use the capability to
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1 carry cargo.
2 Vehicles operating under this paragraph (e) shall have
3 access for a distance of 5 highway miles on a street or
4 highway in the system of State highways, and upon any street
5 or highway designated by local authorities or road district
6 commissioners, to points of loading and unloading and to
7 facilities for food, fuel, repairs and rest. Household goods
8 carriers shall have access to points of loading and
9 unloading.
10 Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
11 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
12 designation of highways under this paragraph (e).
13 (f) On any street or highway in the system of State
14 highways that has not been designated by the Department under
15 paragraph (d) or (e), the wheelbase between the front axle
16 and the rear axle in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination
17 shall not exceed 55 feet or, effective June 1, 1996, no truck
18 tractor and semitrailer, unladen or with load, except a
19 semitrailer other than a house trailer, shall exceed a length
20 of 65 feet between extreme overall dimensions, the length of
21 the semitrailer, unladen or with load, shall not exceed 53
22 feet and the distance between the kingpin and the center of
23 the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet shall not
24 exceed 42 feet, 6 inches. On any street or highway in the
25 State system of highways that has not been designated by the
26 Department under paragraph (d) or (e), no truck
27 tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination shall exceed a length
28 of 60 feet extreme overall dimension.
29 (g) Length limitations in the preceding subsections of
30 this Section 15-107 shall not apply to vehicles operated in
31 the daytime, except on Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays,
32 when transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of
33 a structural nature that cannot readily be dismembered, nor
34 to vehicles transporting those objects operated on Saturdays,
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1 Sundays or legal holidays or at nighttime by a public utility
2 when required for emergency repair of public service
3 facilities or properties, but in respect to the night
4 operation every vehicle and the load thereon shall be
5 equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both
6 sides and marker lamps upon the extreme ends of any
7 projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load,
8 provided that the overall length of vehicle and load shall
9 not exceed 100 feet and no object exceeding 80 feet in length
10 shall be transported, except by a public utility when
11 required for emergency repairs, unless a permit has first
12 been obtained as authorized in Section 15-301. A combination
13 of vehicles, including a tow truck and a disabled vehicle or
14 disabled combination of vehicles, that exceeds the length
15 restriction imposed by this Code, may be operated on a public
16 highway in this State upon the following conditions:
17 (1) The towing vehicle must be:
18 a. specifically designed as a tow truck having
19 a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000
20 lbs. and equipped with air brakes;
21 b. equipped with flashing, rotating or
22 oscillating amber lights, visible for a least 500
23 feet in all directions; and
24 c. capable of utilizing the lighting and
25 braking systems of the disabled vehicle or
26 combination of vehicles.
27 (2) The towing of vehicles on the highways of this
28 State shall not exceed 50 miles from the initial point of
29 wreck or disablement. Any additional movement of the
30 vehicles shall only occur upon issuance of authorization
31 for that movement under the provisions of Section 15-301
32 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
33 The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
34 additional requirements regarding length limitations for a
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1 tow truck towing another vehicle.
2 For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
3 rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
4 manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck. Legal
5 holidays referred to in this Section shall be specified as
6 the day on which the following traditional holidays are
7 celebrated:
8 New Year's Day;
9 Memorial Day;
10 Independence Day;
11 Labor Day;
12 Thanksgiving Day; and
13 Christmas Day.
14 (h) The load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the
15 load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles,
16 shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the front wheels of
17 the vehicle or the front bumper of the vehicle if it is
18 equipped with a front bumper. The provisions of this
19 subsection (h) shall not apply to any vehicle or combination
20 of vehicles specifically designed for the collection and
21 transportation of waste, garbage, or recyclable materials
22 during the vehicle's operation in the course of collecting
23 garbage, waste, or recyclable materials if the vehicle is
24 traveling at a speed not in excess of 15 miles per hour
25 during the vehicle's operation and in the course of
26 collecting garbage, waste, or recyclable materials. However,
27 in no instance shall the load extend more than 7 feet beyond
28 the front wheels of the vehicle or the front bumper of the
29 vehicle if it is equipped with a front bumper.
30 (i) The load upon the front vehicle of a combination of
31 vehicles specifically designed to transport motor vehicles
32 shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the foremost part of
33 the transporting vehicle and the load upon the rear
34 transporting vehicle shall not extend more than 4 feet beyond
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1 the rear of the bed or body of the vehicle. This paragraph
2 shall only be applicable upon highways designated in
3 paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section.
4 (j) Articulated vehicles comprised of 2 sections,
5 neither of which exceeds a length of 42 feet, designed for
6 the carrying of more than 10 persons, may be up to 60 feet in
7 length, not including energy absorbing bumpers, provided that
8 the vehicles are:
9 1. operated by or for any public body or motor
10 carrier authorized by law to provide public
11 transportation services; or
12 2. operated in local public transportation service
13 by any other person and the municipality in which the
14 service is to be provided approved the operation of the
15 vehicle.
16 (j-1) Charter or regulated route buses may be up to 45
17 feet in length, not including energy absorbing bumpers.
18 (k) Any person who is convicted of violating this
19 Section is subject to the penalty as provided in paragraph
20 (b) of Section 15-113.
21 (l) A combination of 3 vehicles not to exceed 60 feet
22 overall length may be operated on the highways of the State,
23 provided that the vehicles meet the following requirements:
24 (1) The towing vehicle is a properly registered
25 vehicle capable of towing another vehicle using a
26 fifth-wheel type assembly.
27 (2) The second vehicle in the combination of
28 vehicles shall be a recreational vehicle that is towed by
29 a fifth-wheel assembly. This vehicle shall be properly
30 registered and be equipped with brakes regardless of
31 weight.
32 (3) The third vehicle shall be the lightest of the
33 3 vehicles and be a trailer or semi-trailer designed or
34 used for transporting a boat, all-terrain vehicle,
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1 personal watercraft, or motorcycle.
2 (4) The towed vehicles may only be for the use of
3 the operator of the towing vehicle.
4 (5) All vehicles shall be properly equipped with
5 operating brakes and safety equipment required by this
6 Code, except the additional brake requirement in
7 paragraph (2) above.
8 (m) A combination of 3 vehicles not to exceed 60 feet
9 overall length may be operated on the highways of the State,
10 provided that the vehicles meet the following requirements:
11 (1) The towing vehicle is a properly registered
12 vehicle capable of towing another vehicle using a ball
13 hitch assembly.
14 (2) The second and third vehicles in the
15 combination of vehicles are empty trailers that are towed
16 by a ball hitch assembly and are being towed from the
17 trailer manufacturer to a trailer dealer. The trailers
18 must have safety chains and working trailer lights. The
19 trailers must be properly registered and be equipped with
20 brakes regardless of weight.
21 (3) All vehicles are properly equipped with
22 operating brakes and safety equipment required by this
23 Code, including the additional brake requirement in
24 paragraph (2) of this subsection (m).
25 (Source: P.A. 89-219, eff. 1-1-96; 89-434, eff. 6-1-96;
26 89-626, eff. 8-9-96; 90-89, eff. 1-1-98; 90-147, eff.
27 7-23-97; 90-407, eff. 8-15-97; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)