Public Act 90-0147 of the 90th General Assembly
Public Act 90-0147
HB320 Enrolled LRB9000448NTsb
AN ACT to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code by changing
Section 15-107.
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 15-107 as follows:
(625 ILCS 5/15-107) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-107)
Sec. 15-107. Length of vehicles.
(a) Unless otherwise provided for in this Code, no
single vehicle, with or without load, other than a
semitrailer that is not a housetrailer, shall exceed an
overall length of 42 feet.
(b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (f) and
unless otherwise provided in this Code, no truck tractor and
semitrailer, unladen or with load, except a semitrailer other
than a house trailer, shall exceed a length of 55 feet
extreme overall dimension, except that the combination when
specially designed to transport motor vehicles may have a
length of 60 feet extreme overall dimension, subject to those
exceptions and special rules otherwise stated in this Code.
No other combination of vehicles, unladen or with load, shall
exceed a length of 60 feet extreme overall dimension.
(c) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one trailer, or
a converter dolly, or a vehicle that is special mobile
equipment if the extreme length of the combination does not
exceed 60 feet, and a truck in transit may draw 3 trucks in
transit coupled together by the triple saddlemount method.
Except as otherwise provided, no other combinations of
vehicles coupled together shall consist of more than 2
vehicles. For the purposes of this paragraph, a tow-dolly
that merely serves as substitute wheels for another legally
licensed vehicle will be considered part of the vehicle and
not as a separate vehicle.
Vehicles in combination, whether being operated
intrastate or interstate, shall be operated and towed in
compliance with all requirements of Federal Highway
Administration, Title 49, C. F. R., Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations, pertaining to coupling devices and towing
methods and all other equipment safety requirements set forth
in the regulations.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code,
there is no overall length limitation on motor vehicles
operating in truck tractor-semitrailer or truck
tractor-semitrailer-trailer combinations, except that
maxi-cube combinations as defined in this Section, and a
combination of vehicles specifically designed to transport
motor vehicles or boats, shall not exceed 65 feet overall
length, and provided that a stinger steered combination of
vehicles specifically designed to transport motor vehicles or
boats and a truck in transit transporting 3 trucks coupled
together by the triple saddlemount method shall not exceed 75
feet overall length, with the length limitations inclusive of
front and rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the
transported vehicles as provided for in paragraph (i) of this
Section, upon the National System of Interstate and Defense
Highways or any other highways in the system of State
highways that have been designated Class I highways by the
Department or any street or highway designated by local
authorities or road district commissioners; provided that the
length of the semitrailer unit, unladen or with load,
operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination shall not
exceed 53 feet and the distance between the kingpin and the
center of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet
shall not exceed 45 feet, 6 inches; and provided that the
length of any semitrailer or trailer, unladen or with load,
operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination
shall not exceed 28 feet 6 inches.
The length limitations described in this paragraph (d)
shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
such as rear view mirrors, turn signals, marker lamps, steps
and handholds for entry and egress, flexible fender
extensions, bumpers, mudflaps and splash and spray
suppressant devices, load-induced tire bulge, refrigeration
units or air compressors and other devices, that the
Department may interpret as necessary for safe and efficient
operation; except that no device excluded under this
paragraph shall have by its design or use the capability to
carry cargo.
Vehicles operating under this paragraph (d) shall have
access for a distance of one highway mile to or from a Class
I highway on any street or highway, unless there is a sign
prohibiting the access, or 5 highway miles on a street or
highway in the system of State highways, and upon any street
or highway designated, without additional fees, by local
authorities or road district commissioners, to points of
loading and unloading and facilities for food, fuel, repairs
and rest. Household goods carriers shall have access to
points of loading and unloading.
For purposes of this Section, a maxi-cube vehicle shall
be defined as a combination of vehicles consisting of a
truck-tractor, upon which is mounted a separable cargo
carrying semi-trailer, and a trailing unit that is attached
by a pintle hook or similar connection, with the separable
cargo carrying semi-trailer designed so as to be loaded and
unloaded through the trailing unit, except that the entire
combination shall not exceed 65 feet in length and that
neither the semi-trailer nor the trailing unit in the
combination shall by itself exceed 34 feet in length.
Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
designation of highways under this paragraph (d).
(e) In addition to the designation of highways under
paragraph (d) the Department may designate other streets or
highways in the system of State highways as Class II
highways. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code,
effective June 1, 1996 there is no overall length limitation
on motor vehicles operating in truck tractor-semitrailer
combinations operating upon designated Class II highways,
provided the length of the semitrailer unit, unladen or with
load, operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination
shall not exceed 53 feet and the distance between the kingpin
and the center of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than
48 feet shall not exceed 45 feet, 6 inches. A truck
tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination may be operated
provided that the wheelbase between the front axle and rear
axle shall not exceed 65 feet and the length of any
semitrailer or trailer, unladen or with load, in a
combination shall not exceed 28 feet 6 inches. Local
authorities and road district commissioners with respect to
streets and highways under their jurisdiction, may also by
ordinance or resolution allow the length limitations of this
paragraph (e).
A maxi-cube combination, a truck in transit transporting
3 trucks coupled together by the triple saddlemount method,
and a combination of vehicles specifically designed to
transport motor vehicles or boats may operate on the
designated streets or highways provided the overall length
shall not exceed 65 feet, and provided that a stinger steered
combination of vehicles specifically designed to transport
motor vehicles or boats shall not exceed 75 feet overall
length, with the length limitations inclusive of front and
rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the transported
vehicles as provided for in paragraph (i) of this Section.
The length limitations described in this paragraph (e)
shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
such as rear view mirrors, turn signals, marker lamps, steps
and handholds for entry and egress, flexible fender
extensions, bumpers, mudflaps and splash and spray
suppressant devices, load-induced tire bulge, refrigeration
units or air compressors and other devices, that the
Department may interpret as necessary for safe and efficient
operation; except that no device excluded under this
paragraph shall have by its design or use the capability to
carry cargo.
Vehicles operating under this paragraph (e) shall have
access for a distance of 5 highway miles on a street or
highway in the system of State highways, and upon any street
or highway designated by local authorities or road district
commissioners, to points of loading and unloading and to
facilities for food, fuel, repairs and rest. Household goods
carriers shall have access to points of loading and
unloading.
Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
designation of highways under this paragraph (e).
(f) On any street or highway in the system of State
highways that has not been designated by the Department under
paragraph (d) or (e), the wheelbase between the front axle
and the rear axle in a truck tractor-semitrailer combination
shall not exceed 55 feet or, effective June 1, 1996, no truck
tractor and semitrailer, unladen or with load, except a
semitrailer other than a house trailer, shall exceed a length
of 65 feet between extreme overall dimensions, the length of
the semitrailer, unladen or with load, shall not exceed 53
feet and the distance between the kingpin and the center of
the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet shall not
exceed 42 feet, 6 inches. On any street or highway in the
State system of highways that has not been designated by the
Department under paragraph (d) or (e), no truck
tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination shall exceed a length
of 60 feet extreme overall dimension.
(g) Length limitations in the preceding subsections of
this Section 15-107 shall not apply to vehicles operated in
the daytime, except on Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays,
when transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of
a structural nature that cannot readily be dismembered, nor
to vehicles transporting those objects operated on Saturdays,
Sundays or legal holidays or at nighttime by a public utility
when required for emergency repair of public service
facilities or properties, but in respect to the night
operation every vehicle and the load thereon shall be
equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both
sides and marker lamps upon the extreme ends of any
projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load,
provided that the overall length of vehicle and load shall
not exceed 100 feet and no object exceeding 80 feet in length
shall be transported, except by a public utility when
required for emergency repairs, unless a permit has first
been obtained as authorized in Section 15-301. A combination
of vehicles, including a tow truck and a disabled vehicle or
disabled combination of vehicles, that exceeds the length
restriction imposed by this Code, may be operated on a public
highway in this State upon the following conditions:
(1) The towing vehicle must be:
a. specifically designed as a tow truck having
a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000
lbs. and equipped with air brakes;
b. equipped with flashing, rotating or
oscillating amber lights, visible for a least 500
feet in all directions; and
c. capable of utilizing the lighting and
braking systems of the disabled vehicle or
combination of vehicles.
(2) The towing of vehicles on the highways of this
State shall not exceed 50 miles from the initial point of
wreck or disablement. Any additional movement of the
vehicles shall only occur upon issuance of authorization
for that movement under the provisions of Section 15-301
through 15-319 of this Chapter.
The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
additional requirements regarding length limitations for a
tow truck towing another vehicle.
For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck. Legal
holidays referred to in this Section shall be specified as
the day on which the following traditional holidays are
celebrated:
New Year's Day;
Memorial Day;
Independence Day;
Labor Day;
Thanksgiving Day; and
Christmas Day.
(h) The load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the
load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles,
shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the front wheels of
the vehicle or the front bumper of the vehicle if it is
equipped with a front bumper. The provisions of this
subsection (h) shall not apply to any vehicle or combination
of vehicles specifically designed for the collection and
transportation of waste, garbage, or recyclable materials if
the vehicle is traveling at a speed not in excess of 15 miles
per hour during the vehicle's operation and in the course of
collecting garbage, waste, or recyclable materials. However,
in no instance shall the load extend more than 7 feet beyond
the front wheels of the vehicle or the front bumper of the
vehicle if it is equipped with a front bumper.
(i) The load upon the front vehicle of a combination of
vehicles specifically designed to transport motor vehicles
shall not extend more than 3 feet beyond the foremost part of
the transporting vehicle and the load upon the rear
transporting vehicle shall not extend more than 4 feet beyond
the rear of the bed or body of the vehicle. This paragraph
shall only be applicable upon highways designated in
paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section.
(j) Articulated vehicles comprised of 2 sections,
neither of which exceeds a length of 42 feet, designed for
the carrying of more than 10 persons, may be up to 60 feet in
length, not including energy absorbing bumpers, provided that
the vehicles are:
1. operated by or for any public body or motor
carrier authorized by law to provide public
transportation services; or
2. operated in local public transportation service
by any other person and the municipality in which the
service is to be provided approved the operation of the
vehicle.
(j-1) Charter or regulated route buses may be up to 45
feet in length, not including energy absorbing bumpers.
(k) Any person who is convicted of violating this
Section is subject to the penalty as provided in paragraph
(b) of Section 15-113.
(l) A combination of 3 vehicles not to exceed 60 feet
overall length may be operated on the highways of the State,
provided that the vehicles meet the following requirements:
(1) The towing vehicle is a properly registered
vehicle capable of towing another vehicle using a
fifth-wheel type assembly.
(2) The second vehicle in the combination of
vehicles shall be a recreational vehicle that is towed by
a fifth-wheel assembly. This vehicle shall be properly
registered and be equipped with brakes regardless of
weight.
(3) The third vehicle shall be the lightest of the
3 vehicles and be a trailer or semi-trailer designed or
used for transporting a boat, all-terrain vehicle,
personal watercraft, or motorcycle.
(4) The towed vehicles may only be for the use of
the operator of the towing vehicle.
(5) All vehicles shall be properly equipped with
operating brakes and safety equipment required by this
Code, except the additional brake requirement in
paragraph (2) above.
(Source: P.A. 88-45; 88-384; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-219,
eff. 1-1-96; 89-434, eff. 6-1-96; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.