Public Act 0567 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1530 Enrolled LRB098 04216 MLW 34241 b

Public Act 098-0567

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 11-1426.1 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1)

Sec. 11-1426.1. Operation of non-highway vehicles on streets, roads, and highways.

(a) As used in this Section, "non-highway vehicle" means a motor vehicle not specifically designed to be used on a public highway, including:

(1) an all-terrain vehicle, as defined by Section 1-101.8 of this Code;

(2) a golf cart, as defined by Section 1-123.9;

(3) an off-highway motorcycle, as defined by Section 1-153.1; and

(4) a recreational off-highway vehicle, as defined by Section 1-168.8.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, it is unlawful for any person to drive or operate a non-highway vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in this State. If the operation of a non-highway vehicle is authorized under subsection (d), the non-highway vehicle may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. This subsection (b) does not prohibit a non-highway vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.

(b-5) A person may not operate a non-highway vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in this State unless he or she has a valid driver's license issued in his or her name by the Secretary of State or by a foreign jurisdiction.

(c) No Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c-5), no person operating a non-highway vehicle shall make a direct crossing upon or across any highway under the jurisdiction of the State, tollroad, interstate highway, or controlled access highway in this State. No person operating a non-highway vehicle shall make a direct crossing upon or across any other highway under the jurisdiction of the State except at an intersection of the highway with another public street, road, or highway.

(c-5) (Blank). A person may make a direct crossing at an intersection controlled by a traffic light or 4-way stop sign upon or across a highway under the jurisdiction of the State if the speed limit on the highway is 35 miles per hour or less at the place of crossing.

(d) A municipality, township, county, or other unit of local government may authorize, by ordinance or resolution, the operation of non-highway vehicles on roadways under its jurisdiction if the unit of local government determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized. The Department may authorize the operation of non-highway vehicles on the roadways under its jurisdiction if the Department determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized. The unit of local government or the Department may restrict the types of non-highway vehicles that are authorized to be used on its streets.

Before permitting the operation of non-highway vehicles on its roadways, a municipality, township, county, other unit of local government, or the Department must consider the volume, speed, and character of traffic on the roadway and determine whether non-highway vehicles may safely travel on or cross the roadway. Upon determining that non-highway vehicles may safely operate on a roadway and the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by a municipality, township, county, or other unit of local government, or authorization by the Department, appropriate signs shall be posted.

If a roadway is under the jurisdiction of more than one unit of government, non-highway vehicles may not be operated on the roadway unless each unit of government agrees and takes action as provided in this subsection.

(e) No non-highway vehicle may be operated on a roadway unless, at a minimum, it has the following: brakes, a steering apparatus, tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices in the front and rear, a slow moving emblem (as required of other vehicles in Section 12-709 of this Code) on the rear of the non-highway vehicle, a headlight that emits a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front, a tail lamp that emits a red light visible from at least 100 feet from the rear, brake lights, and turn signals. When operated on a roadway, a non-highway vehicle shall have its headlight and tail lamps lighted as required by Section 12-201 of this Code.

(f) A person who drives or is in actual physical control of a non-highway vehicle on a roadway while under the influence is subject to Sections 11-500 through 11-502 of this Code.

(g) Any person who operates a non-highway vehicle on a street, highway, or roadway shall be subject to the mandatory insurance requirements under Article VI of Chapter 7 of this Code.

(h) It shall not be unlawful for any person to drive or operate a non-highway vehicle, as defined in paragraphs (1) and (4) of subsection (a) of this Section, on a county roadway or township roadway for the purpose of conducting farming operations to and from the home, farm, farm buildings, and any adjacent or nearby farm land.

Non-highway vehicles, as used in this subsection (h), shall not be subject to subsections (e) and (g) of this Section. However, if the non-highway vehicle, as used in this Section, is not covered under a motor vehicle insurance policy pursuant to subsection (g) of this Section, the vehicle must be covered under a farm, home, or non-highway vehicle insurance policy issued with coverage amounts no less than the minimum amounts set for bodily injury or death and for destruction of property under Section 7-203 of this Code. Non-highway vehicles operated on a county or township roadway at any time between one-half hour before sunset and one-half hour after sunrise must be equipped with head lamps and tail lamps, and the head lamps and tail lamps must be lighted.

Non-highway vehicles, as used in this subsection (h), shall not make a direct crossing upon or across any tollroad, interstate highway, or controlled access highway in this State.

Non-highway vehicles, as used in this subsection (h), shall be allowed to cross a State highway, municipal street, county highway, or road district highway if the operator of the non-highway vehicle makes a direct crossing provided:

(1) the crossing is made at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the street, road or highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing;

(2) the non-highway vehicle is brought to a complete stop before attempting a crossing;

(3) the operator of the non-highway vehicle yields the right of way to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic which constitutes a hazard; and

(4) that when crossing a divided highway, the crossing is made only at an intersection of the highway with another public street, road, or highway.

(i) No action taken by a unit of local government under this Section designates the operation of a non-highway vehicle as an intended or permitted use of property with respect to Section 3-102 of the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-279, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1434, eff. 8-11-10; 97-144, eff. 7-14-11.)

Section 10. The Boat Registration and Safety Act is amended by changing Section 4-1 as follows:

(625 ILCS 45/4-1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 314-1)

Sec. 4-1. Personal flotation devices.

A. No person may operate a watercraft unless at least one U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD of the following types or their equivalent is on board for each person: Type I, Type II or Type III.

B. No person may operate a personal watercraft or specialty prop-craft unless each person aboard is wearing a Type I, Type II, Type III or Type V PFD approved by the United States Coast Guard.

C. No person may operate a watercraft 16 feet or more in length, except a canoe or kayak, unless at least one Type IV U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD or its equivalent is on board in addition to the PFD's required in paragraph A of this Section.

D. A U.S. Coast Guard approved Type V personal flotation device may be carried in lieu of the Type I, II, III or IV personal flotation device required in this Section, if the Type V personal flotation device is approved for the activity in which it is being used.

E. When assisting a person on waterskis, aquaplane or similar device, there must be one U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD on board the watercraft for each person being assisted or towed or worn by the person being assisted or towed.

F. No person may operate a watercraft unless each device required by this Section is:

1. Readily accessible;

2. In serviceable condition;

3. Of the appropriate size for the person for whom it is intended; and

4. Legibly marked with the U.S. Coast Guard approval number.

G. Approved personal flotation devices are defined as follows:

Type I - A Type I personal flotation device is an approved device designed to turn an unconscious person in the water from a face downward position to a vertical or slightly backward position and to have more than 20 pounds of buoyancy.

Type II - A Type II personal flotation device is an approved device designed to turn an unconscious person in the water from a face downward position to a vertical or slightly backward position and to have at least 15 1/2 pounds of buoyancy.

Type III - A Type III personal flotation device is an approved device designed to keep a conscious person in a vertical or slightly backward position and to have at least 15 1/2 pounds of buoyancy.

Type IV - A Type IV personal flotation device is an approved device designed to be thrown to a person in the water and not worn. It is designed to have at least 16 1/2 pounds of buoyancy.

Type V - A Type V personal flotation device is an approved device for restricted use and is acceptable only when used in the activity for which it is approved.

H. The provisions of subsections A through G of this Section shall not apply to sailboards.

I. No person may operate a watercraft under 26 feet in length unless a Type I, Type II, Type III, or Type V personal flotation device is being properly worn by each person under the age of 13 on board the watercraft at all times in which the watercraft is underway; however, this requirement shall not apply to persons who are below decks or in totally enclosed cabin spaces. The provisions of this subsection I shall not apply to a person operating a watercraft on private property.

J. Racing shells, rowing sculls, racing canoes, and racing kayaks are exempt from the PFD, of any type, carriage requirements under this Section provided that the racing shell, racing scull, racing canoe, or racing kayak is participating in an event sanctioned by the Department as a PFD optional event. The Department may adopt rules to implement this subsection.

(Source: P.A. 97-801, eff. 1-1-13.)

Effective Date: 1/1/2014