HB0797eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0797 Engrossed LRB096 03144 AJT 13161 b

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 3-809 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/3-809) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-809)

Sec. 3-809. Farm machinery, exempt vehicles and fertilizer spreaders - registration fee.

(a) Vehicles of the second division having a corn sheller, a well driller, hay press, clover huller, feed mixer and unloader, or other farm machinery permanently mounted thereon and used solely for transporting the same, farm wagon type trailers having a fertilizer spreader attachment permanently mounted thereon, having a gross weight of not to exceed 36,000 pounds and used only for the transportation of bulk fertilizer, and farm wagon type tank trailers of not to exceed 3,000 gallons capacity, used during the liquid fertilizer season as field-storage "nurse tanks" supplying the fertilizer to a field applicator and moved on highways only for bringing the fertilizer from a local source of supply to farm or field or from one farm or field to another, or used during the lime season and moved on the highways only for bringing from a local source of supply to farm or field or from one farm or field to another, shall be registered upon the filing of a proper application and the payment of a registration fee of $13 per 2-year registration period. This registration fee of $13 shall be paid in full and shall not be reduced even though such registration is made after the beginning of the registration period.

(b) Vehicles exempt from registration under the provisions of Section 3-402.A of this Act, as amended, except those vehicles required to be registered under paragraph (c) of this Section, may, at the option of the owner, be identified as exempt vehicles by displaying registration plates issued by the Secretary of State. The owner thereof may apply for such permanent, non-transferable registration plates upon the filing of a proper application and the payment of a registration fee of $13. The application for and display of such registration plates for identification purposes by vehicles exempt from registration shall not be deemed as a waiver or recision of its exempt status, nor make such vehicle subject to registration. Nothing in this Section prohibits the towing of another vehicle by the exempt vehicle if the towed vehicle:

(i) does not exceed the registered weight of 8,000 pounds;

(ii) is used exclusively for transportation to and from the work site;

(iii) is not used for carrying counter weights or other material related to the operation of the exempt vehicle while under tow; and

(iv) displays proper and current registration plates.

(c) Any single unit self-propelled agricultural fertilizer implement, designed for both on and off road use, equipped with flotation tires and otherwise specially adapted for the application of plant food materials or agricultural chemicals, desiring to be operated upon the highways ladened with load shall be registered upon the filing of a proper application and payment of a registration fee of $250. The registration fee shall be paid in full and shall not be reduced even though such registration is made during the second half of the registration year. These vehicles shall, whether loaded or unloaded, be limited to a maximum gross weight of 36,000 pounds, restricted to a highway speed of not more than 30 miles per hour and a legal width of not more than 12 feet. Such vehicles shall be limited to the furthering of agricultural or horticultural pursuits and in furtherance of these pursuits, such vehicles may be operated upon the highway, within a 50 mile radius of their point of loading as indicated on the written or printed statement required by the "Illinois Fertilizer Act of 1961", as amended, for the purpose of moving plant food materials or agricultural chemicals to the field, or from field to field, for the sole purpose of application.

No single unit self-propelled agricultural fertilizer implement, designed for both on and off road use, equipped with flotation tires and otherwise specially adapted for the application of plant food materials or agricultural chemicals, having a width of more than 12 feet or a gross weight in excess of 36,000 pounds, shall be permitted to operate upon the highways ladened with load.

Whenever any vehicle is operated in violation of Section 3-809 (c) of this Act, the owner or the driver of such vehicle shall be deemed guilty of a petty offense and either may be prosecuted for such violation.

(Source: P.A. 92-15, eff. 7-1-01; 93-312, eff. 1-1-04.)