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92nd General Assembly

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Public Act 92-0766

HB3210 Enrolled                                LRB9208358DHmb

    AN ACT in relation to vehicles.

    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)  The maximum  length  of  a  single  vehicle  on  any
highway  of  this  State  may  not exceed  42 feet except the
following:
         (1)  Semitrailers.
         (2)  Charter or regulated route buses may be  up  to
    45   feet  in  length,  not  including  energy  absorbing
    bumpers.
    (a-1)  A motor home as defined in Section 1-145.01 may be
up to 45 feet  in  length,  not  including  energy  absorbing
bumpers.  The length limitations described in this subsection
(a-1) shall be exclusive of energy-absorbing bumpers and rear
view mirrors.
    (b)  On  all  non-State  highways,  the maximum length of
vehicles in combinations is as follows:
         (1)  A  truck  tractor   in   combination   with   a
    semitrailer may not exceed 55 feet overall dimension.
         (2)  A  truck  tractor-semitrailer-trailer  may  not
    exceed 60 feet overall dimension.
         (3)  Combinations  specially  designed  to transport
    motor vehicles or boats may not exceed  60  feet  overall
    dimension.
    Vehicles    operating    during   daylight   hours   when
transporting poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects  of  a
structural  nature  that  cannot  readily  be dismembered are
exempt  from  length limitations, provided that no object may
exceed 80 feet in length and the  overall  dimension  of  the
vehicle  including  the  load may not  exceed 100 feet.  This
exemption does not apply to operation on a Saturday,  Sunday,
or legal holiday.  Legal holidays referred to in this Section
are  the days on which the following traditional holidays are
celebrated: New Year's Day; Memorial Day;  Independence  Day;
Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
    Vehicles  and loads operated by a public utility while en
route to make emergency repairs to public service  facilities
or  properties  are  exempt from length limitations, provided
that  during night operations every vehicle and its load must
be equipped with a sufficient number of  clearance  lamps  on
both  sides  and  marker  lamps  on  the  extreme ends of any
projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
    A tow truck in combination with  a  disabled  vehicle  or
combination  of  disabled  vehicles, as provided in paragraph
(6) of subsection (c) of this Section, is exempt from  length
limitations.
    All  other combinations not listed in this subsection (b)
may not exceed 60 feet overall dimension.
    (c)  Combinations of vehicles may not exceed a total of 2
vehicles except the following:
         (1)  A  truck  tractor  semitrailer  may  draw   one
    trailer.
         (2)  A   truck  tractor  semitrailer  may  draw  one
    converter dolly.
         (3)  A  truck  tractor  semitrailer  may  draw   one
    vehicle  that  is  defined in Chapter 1 as special mobile
    equipment, provided the overall dimension does not exceed
    60 feet.
         (4)  A truck in transit may draw 3 trucks in transit
    coupled together by the triple saddlemount method.
         (5)  Recreational vehicles consisting of 3 vehicles,
    provided the following:
              (A)  The  total  overall  dimension  does   not
         exceed 60 feet.
              (B)  The   towing   vehicle   is   a   properly
         registered vehicle capable of towing another vehicle
         using a fifth-wheel type assembly.
              (C)  The  second  vehicle in the combination of
         vehicles is a recreational vehicle that is towed  by
         a   fifth-wheel  assembly.   This  vehicle  must  be
         properly  registered  and  must  be  equipped   with
         brakes, regardless of weight.
              (D)  The  third vehicle must be the lightest of
         the 3 vehicles  and  be  a  trailer  or  semitrailer
         designed   or   used   for   transporting   a  boat,
         all-terrain   vehicle,   personal   watercraft,   or
         motorcycle.
              (E)  The towed vehicles may be only for the use
         of the operator of the towing vehicle.
              (F)  All vehicles  must  be  properly  equipped
         with  operating brakes and safety equipment required
         by  this   Code,   except   the   additional   brake
         requirement  in subdivision (C) of this subparagraph
         (5).
         (6)  A tow truck  in  combination  with  a  disabled
    vehicle or combination of disabled vehicles, provided the
    towing vehicle:
              (A)  Is  specifically  designed  as a tow truck
         having a gross vehicle weight  rating  of  at  least
         18,000 pounds and equipped with air brakes, provided
         that  air  brakes  are  required  only if the towing
         vehicle  is  towing  a  vehicle,   semitrailer,   or
         tractor-trailer  combination  that  is equipped with
         air brakes.  For the  purpose  of  this  subsection,
         gross  vehicle  weight  rating,  or  GVWR, means the
         value specified by the manufacturer  as  the  loaded
         weight of the tow truck.
              (B)  Is  equipped  with  flashing, rotating, or
         oscillating amber lights, visible for at  least  500
         feet in all directions.
              (C)  Is  capable  of utilizing the lighting and
         braking  systems  of   the   disabled   vehicle   or
         combination of vehicles.
              (D)  Does not engage a tow exceeding 50 highway
         miles from the initial point of wreck or disablement
         to a place of repair. Any additional movement of the
         vehicles   may   occur   only   upon   issuance   of
         authorization for that movement under the provisions
         of Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this Code.
    The  Department  may  by  rule  or  regulation  prescribe
additional  requirements  regarding  length limitations for a
tow truck towing another vehicle.
    For purposes of this Section,  a  tow-dolly  that  merely
serves  as  substitute  wheels  for  another legally licensed
vehicle is considered part of the licensed vehicle and not  a
separate vehicle.
    (d)  On  Class  I  highways  there  are no overall length
limitations  on  motor  vehicles  operating  in  combinations
provided:
         (1)  The length of a semitrailer,  unladen  or  with
    load,  in combination with a truck tractor may not exceed
    53 feet.
         (2)  The distance between the kingpin and the center
    of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in
    combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed 45  feet
    6 inches.
         (3)  The length of a semitrailer or trailer, unladen
    or     with     load,     operated     in     a     truck
    tractor-semitrailer-trailer  combination,  may not exceed
    28 feet 6 inches.
         (4)  Maxi-cube combinations, as defined  in  Chapter
    1, may not exceed 65 feet overall dimension.
         (5)  Combinations  of vehicles specifically designed
    to transport motor vehicles or boats may  not  exceed  65
    feet   overall   dimension.   The  length  limitation  is
    inclusive of front and rear bumpers but exclusive of  the
    overhang  of  the  transported  vehicles,  as provided in
    paragraph (i) of this Section.
         (6)  Stinger steered semitrailer vehicles as defined
    in Chapter 1, specifically designed  to  transport  motor
    vehicles  or  boats,  may  not  exceed  75  feet  overall
    dimension.  The  length  limitation is inclusive of front
    and rear bumpers but exclusive of  the  overhang  of  the
    transported  vehicles,  as  provided  in paragraph (i) of
    this Section.
         (7)  A  truck  in  transit  transporting  3   trucks
    coupled together by the triple saddlemount method may not
    exceed 75 feet overall dimension.
    Vehicles    operating    during   daylight   hours   when
transporting poles, pipes, machinery, or other objects  of  a
structural  nature  that  cannot  readily  be dismembered are
exempt from length limitations, provided that no  object  may
exceed  80  feet  in  length and the overall dimension of the
vehicle including the load may not  exceed  100  feet.   This
exemption  does not apply to operation on a Saturday, Sunday,
or legal holiday.  Legal holidays referred to in this Section
are the days on which the following traditional holidays  are
celebrated:  New  Year's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day;
Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
    Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while  en
route  to make emergency repairs to public service facilities
or properties are exempt from  length  limitations,  provided
that  during night operations every vehicle and its load must
be equipped with a sufficient number of  clearance  lamps  on
both  sides  and  marker  lamps  on  the  extreme ends of any
projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
    A tow truck in combination with  a  disabled  vehicle  or
combination  of  disabled  vehicles, as provided in paragraph
(6) of subsection (c) of this Section, is exempt from  length
limitations.
    The  length  limitations  described in this paragraph (d)
shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
such as bumpers, 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.
    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)  On  Class  II  highways  there are no overall length
limitations on  motor  vehicles  operating  in  combinations,
provided:
         (1)  The  length  of  a semitrailer, unladen or with
    load, in combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed
    53 feet overall dimension.
         (2)  The distance between the kingpin and the center
    of the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in
    combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed 45  feet
    6 inches.
         (3)  A truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer combination
    may not exceed 65 feet overall dimension.
         (4)  The length of a semitrailer or trailer, unladen
    or     with     load,     operated     in     a     truck
    tractor-semitrailer-trailer  combination,  may not exceed
    28 feet 6 inches.
         (5)  Maxi-cube combinations, as defined  in  Chapter
    1, may not exceed 65 feet overall dimension.
         (6)  A   combination   of   vehicles,   specifically
    designed  to  transport  motor vehicles or boats, may not
    exceed 65 feet overall dimension.  The length  limitation
    is  inclusive  of front and rear bumpers but exclusive of
    the overhang of the transported vehicles, as provided  in
    paragraph (i) of this Section.
         (7)  Stinger   steered   semitrailer   vehicles,  as
    defined in Chapter 1, specifically designed to  transport
    motor  vehicles  or boats, may not exceed 75 feet overall
    dimension. The length limitation is  inclusive  of  front
    and  rear  bumpers  but  exclusive of the overhang of the
    transported vehicles, as provided  in  paragraph  (i)  of
    this Section.
         (8)  A   truck  in  transit  transporting  3  trucks
    coupled together by the triple saddlemount method may not
    exceed 75 feet overall dimension.
    Vehicles   operating   during   daylight    hours    when
transporting  poles,  pipes, machinery, or other objects of a
structural nature that  cannot  readily  be  dismembered  are
exempt  from  length limitations, provided that no object may
exceed 80 feet in length and the  overall  dimension  of  the
vehicle  including  the  load  may not exceed 100 feet.  This
exemption does not apply to operation on a Saturday,  Sunday,
or legal holiday.  Legal holidays referred to in this Section
are  the days on which the following traditional holidays are
celebrated: New Year's Day; Memorial Day;  Independence  Day;
Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; and Christmas Day.
    Vehicles  and loads operated by a public utility while en
route to make emergency repairs to public service  facilities
or  properties  are  exempt from length limitations, provided
that during night operations every vehicle and its load  must
be  equipped  with  a sufficient number of clearance lamps on
both sides and marker lamps  on  the   extreme  ends  of  any
projecting load to clearly mark the dimensions of the load.
    A  tow  truck  in  combination with a disabled vehicle or
combination of disabled vehicles, as  provided  in  paragraph
(6)  of subsection (c) of this Section, is exempt from length
limitations.
    Local authorities and road district  commissioners,  with
respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction, may
also  by  ordinance or resolution allow length limitations of
this subsection (e).
    The length limitations described in  this  paragraph  (e)
shall be exclusive of safety and energy conservation devices,
such  as  bumpers, 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.
    (e-1)  Combinations  of  vehicles  not  exceeding 65 feet
overall length are allowed access as follows:
         (1)  From any  State  designated  highway  onto  any
    county,  township, or municipal highway for a distance of
    5 highway miles for the purpose of loading and unloading,
    provided:
              (A)  The vehicle does not exceed 73,280  pounds
         in gross weight and 8 feet 6 inches in width.
              (B)  There is no sign prohibiting that access.
              (C)  The   route   is   not  being  used  as  a
         thoroughfare between State  designated highways.
         (2)  From any  State  designated  highway  onto  any
    county  or  township  highway for a distance of 5 highway
    miles or onto any municipal highway for a distance of one
    highway mile for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs,  and
    rest, provided:
              (A)  The  vehicle does not exceed 73,280 pounds
         in gross weight and 8 feet 6 inches in width.
              (B)  There is no sign prohibiting that access.
              (C)  The  route  is  not  being   used   as   a
         thoroughfare between State designated highways.
    (e-2)  Except    as   provided   in   subsection   (e-3),
combinations of vehicles over 65  feet  in  length,  with  no
overall  length  limitation except as provided in subsections
(d) and (e) of this Section, are allowed access as follows:
         (1)  From a Class  I  highway  onto  any  street  or
    highway  for  a  distance  of  one  highway  mile for the
    purpose of loading, unloading, food, fuel,  repairs,  and
    rest, provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
         (2)  From  a  Class  I  or Class II highway onto any
    State highway or any locally  designated  highway  for  a
    distance  of  5 highway miles for the purpose of loading,
    unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest.
    (e-3)  Combinations of vehicles over 65  feet  in  length
operated  by household goods carriers, with no overall length
limitations except as provided in subsections (d) and (e)  of
this  Section, have unlimited 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   Class   III   and  other  non-designated  State
highways, the length limitations for vehicles in  combination
are as follows:
         (1)  Truck  tractor-semitrailer  combinations,  must
    comply  with  either a maximum 55 feet overall wheel base
    or a maximum 65 feet extreme overall dimension.
         (2)  Semitrailers, unladen or  with  load,  may  not
    exceed 53 feet overall dimension.
         (3)  No       truck      tractor-semitrailer-trailer
    combination may exceed 60 feet extreme overall dimension.
         (4)  The distance between the kingpin and the center
    axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in combination
    with a truck tractor, may not exceed 42 feet 6 inches.
    (g)  Length limitations in the preceding  subsections  of
this Section 15-107 do not apply to the following:
         (1)  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,  provided  the
    overall  length  of  vehicle  and load may not exceed 100
    feet and no object exceeding 80 feet  in  length  may  be
    transported   unless   a  permit  has  been  obtained  as
    authorized in Section 15-301.
         (2)  Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility
    while en  route  to  make  emergency  repairs  to  public
    service   facilities  or  properties,  but  during  night
    operation every vehicle and its  load  must  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.
         (3)  A tow truck  in  combination  with  a  disabled
    vehicle or combination of disabled vehicles, provided the
    towing vehicle meets the following conditions:
              (A)  It is specifically designed as a tow truck
         having  a  gross  vehicle  weight rating of at least
         18,000 pounds and equipped with air brakes, provided
         that air brakes are  required  only  if  the  towing
         vehicle   is   towing  a  vehicle,  semitrailer,  or
         tractor-trailer combination that  is  equipped  with
         air brakes.
              (B)  It is equipped with flashing, rotating, or
         oscillating  amber  lights, visible for at least 500
         feet in all directions.
              (C)  It is capable of  utilizing  the  lighting
         and  braking  systems  of  the  disabled  vehicle or
         combination of vehicles.
              (D)  It does not engage in a tow  exceeding  50
         miles   from   the   initial   point   of  wreck  or
         disablement.
    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
during the vehicle's operation in the  course  of  collecting
garbage,  waste,  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) (Blank).
    (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) (Blank).
(Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02.)
    Passed in the General Assembly May 15, 2002.
    Approved August 06, 2002.
    Effective January 01, 2003.

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