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1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5Section 15-301 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/15-301)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-301)
7    Sec. 15-301. Permits for excess size and weight.
8    (a) The Department with respect to highways under its
9jurisdiction and local authorities with respect to highways
10under their jurisdiction may, in their discretion, upon
11application and good cause being shown therefor, issue a
12special permit authorizing the applicant to operate or move a
13vehicle or combination of vehicles of a size or weight of
14vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in this Code
15Act or otherwise not in conformity with this Code Act upon any
16highway under the jurisdiction of the party granting such
17permit and for the maintenance of which the party is
18responsible. Applications and permits other than those in
19written or printed form may only be accepted from and issued to
20the company or individual making the movement. Except for an
21application to move directly across a highway, it shall be the
22duty of the applicant to establish in the application that the
23load to be moved by such vehicle or combination cannot

 

 

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1reasonably be dismantled or disassembled, the reasonableness
2of which shall be determined by the Secretary of the
3Department. For the purpose of over length movements, more than
4one object may be carried side by side as long as the height,
5width, and weight laws are not exceeded and the cause for the
6over length is not due to multiple objects. For the purpose of
7over height movements, more than one object may be carried as
8long as the cause for the over height is not due to multiple
9objects and the length, width, and weight laws are not
10exceeded. For the purpose of an over width movement, more than
11one object may be carried as long as the cause for the over
12width is not due to multiple objects and length, height, and
13weight laws are not exceeded. Except for transporting fluid
14milk products, no State or local agency shall authorize the
15issuance of excess size or weight permits for vehicles and
16loads that are divisible and that can be carried, when divided,
17within the existing size or weight maximums specified in this
18Chapter. Any excess size or weight permit issued in violation
19of the provisions of this Section shall be void at issue and
20any movement made thereunder shall not be authorized under the
21terms of the void permit. In any prosecution for a violation of
22this Chapter when the authorization of an excess size or weight
23permit is at issue, it is the burden of the defendant to
24establish that the permit was valid because the load to be
25moved could not reasonably be dismantled or disassembled, or
26was otherwise nondivisible.

 

 

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1    (a-1) As used in this Section, "extreme heavy duty tow and
2recovery vehicle" means a tow truck manufactured as a unit
3having a lifting capacity of not less than 50 tons, and having
4either 4 axles and an unladen weight of not more than 80,000
5pounds or 5 axles and an unladen weight not more than 90,000
6pounds. Notwithstanding otherwise applicable gross and axle
7weight limits, an extreme heavy duty tow and recovery vehicle
8may lawfully travel to and from the scene of a disablement and
9clear a disabled vehicle if the towing service has obtained an
10extreme heavy duty tow and recovery permit for the vehicle. The
11form and content of the permit shall be determined by the
12Department with respect to highways under its jurisdiction and
13by local authorities with respect to highways under their
14jurisdiction.
15    (b) The application for any such permit shall: (1) state
16whether such permit is requested for a single trip or for
17limited continuous operation; (2) state if the applicant is an
18authorized carrier under the Illinois Motor Carrier of Property
19Law, if so, his certificate, registration, or permit number
20issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission; (3) specifically
21describe and identify the vehicle or vehicles and load to be
22operated or moved; (4) state the routing requested, including
23the points of origin and destination, and may identify and
24include a request for routing to the nearest certified scale in
25accordance with the Department's rules and regulations,
26provided the applicant has approval to travel on local roads;

 

 

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1and (5) state if the vehicles or loads are being transported
2for hire. No permits for the movement of a vehicle or load for
3hire shall be issued to any applicant who is required under the
4Illinois Motor Carrier of Property Law to have a certificate,
5registration, or permit and does not have such certificate,
6registration, or permit.
7    (c) The Department or local authority when not inconsistent
8with traffic safety is authorized to issue or withhold such
9permit at its discretion; or, if such permit is issued at its
10discretion to prescribe the route or routes to be traveled, to
11limit the number of trips, to establish seasonal or other time
12limitations within which the vehicles described may be operated
13on the highways indicated, or otherwise to limit or prescribe
14conditions of operations of such vehicle or vehicles, when
15necessary to assure against undue damage to the road
16foundations, surfaces or structures, and may require such
17undertaking or other security as may be deemed necessary to
18compensate for any injury to any roadway or road structure. The
19Department shall maintain a daily record of each permit issued
20along with the fee and the stipulated dimensions, weights,
21conditions, and restrictions authorized and this record shall
22be presumed correct in any case of questions or dispute. The
23Department shall install an automatic device for recording
24applications received and permits issued by telephone. In
25making application by telephone, the Department and applicant
26waive all objections to the recording of the conversation.

 

 

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1    (d) The Department shall, upon application in writing from
2any local authority, issue an annual permit authorizing the
3local authority to move oversize highway construction,
4transportation, utility, and maintenance equipment over roads
5under the jurisdiction of the Department. The permit shall be
6applicable only to equipment and vehicles owned by or
7registered in the name of the local authority, and no fee shall
8be charged for the issuance of such permits.
9    (e) As an exception to subsection (a) of this Section, the
10Department and local authorities, with respect to highways
11under their respective jurisdictions, in their discretion and
12upon application in writing, may issue a special permit for
13limited continuous operation, authorizing the applicant to
14move loads of agricultural commodities on a 2-axle single
15vehicle registered by the Secretary of State with axle loads
16not to exceed 35%, on a 3-axle or 4-axle vehicle registered by
17the Secretary of State with axle loads not to exceed 20%, and
18on a 5-axle vehicle registered by the Secretary of State not to
19exceed 10% above those provided in Section 15-111. The total
20gross weight of the vehicle, however, may not exceed the
21maximum gross weight of the registration class of the vehicle
22allowed under Section 3-815 or 3-818 of this Code.
23    As used in this Section, "agricultural commodities" means:
24        (1) cultivated plants or agricultural produce grown,
25    including, but not limited to, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats,
26    grain sorghum, canola, and rice;

 

 

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1        (2) livestock, including, but not limited to, hogs,
2    equine, sheep, and poultry;
3        (3) ensilage; and
4        (4) fruits and vegetables.
5    Permits may be issued for a period not to exceed 40 days
6and moves may be made of a distance not to exceed 50 miles from
7a field, an on-farm grain storage facility, a warehouse as
8defined in the Grain Code, or a livestock management facility
9as defined in the Livestock Management Facilities Act over any
10highway except the National System of Interstate and Defense
11Highways. The operator of the vehicle, however, must abide by
12posted bridge and posted highway weight limits. All implements
13of husbandry operating under this Section between sunset and
14sunrise shall be equipped as prescribed in Section 12-205.1.
15    (e-1) A special permit shall be issued by the Department
16under this Section and shall be required from September 1
17through December 31 for a vehicle that exceeds the maximum axle
18weight and gross weight limits under Section 15-111 of this
19Code or exceeds the vehicle's registered gross weight, provided
20that the vehicle's axle weight and gross weight do not exceed
2110% above the maximum limits under Section 15-111 of this Code
22and does not exceed the vehicle's registered gross weight by
2310%. All other restrictions that apply to permits issued under
24this Section shall apply during the declared time period and no
25fee shall be charged for the issuance of those permits. Permits
26issued by the Department under this subsection (e-1) are only

 

 

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1valid on federal and State highways under the jurisdiction of
2the Department, except interstate highways. With respect to
3highways under the jurisdiction of local authorities, the local
4authorities may, at their discretion, waive special permit
5requirements, and set a divisible load weight limit not to
6exceed 10% above a vehicle's registered gross weight, provided
7that the vehicle's axle weight and gross weight do not exceed
810% above the maximum limits specified in Section 15-111.
9Permits issued under this subsection (e-1) shall apply to all
10registered vehicles eligible to obtain permits under this
11Section, including vehicles used in private or for-hire
12movement of divisible load agricultural commodities during the
13declared time period.
14    (f) The form and content of the permit shall be determined
15by the Department with respect to highways under its
16jurisdiction and by local authorities with respect to highways
17under their jurisdiction. Every permit shall be in written form
18and carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which
19it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer
20or authorized agent of any authority granting the permit and no
21person shall violate any of the terms or conditions of such
22special permit. Violation of the terms and conditions of the
23permit shall not be deemed a revocation of the permit; however,
24any vehicle and load found to be off the route prescribed in
25the permit shall be held to be operating without a permit. Any
26off-route off route vehicle and load shall be required to

 

 

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1obtain a new permit or permits, as necessary, to authorize the
2movement back onto the original permit routing. No rule or
3regulation, nor anything herein, shall be construed to
4authorize any police officer, court, or authorized agent of any
5authority granting the permit to remove the permit from the
6possession of the permittee unless the permittee is charged
7with a fraudulent permit violation as provided in subsection
8(i). However, upon arrest for an offense of violation of
9permit, operating without a permit when the vehicle is off
10route, or any size or weight offense under this Chapter when
11the permittee plans to raise the issuance of the permit as a
12defense, the permittee, or his agent, must produce the permit
13at any court hearing concerning the alleged offense.
14    If the permit designates and includes a routing to a
15certified scale, the permittee, while en route enroute to the
16designated scale, shall be deemed in compliance with the weight
17provisions of the permit provided the axle or gross weights do
18not exceed any of the permitted limits by more than the
19following amounts:
20        Single axle               2000 pounds
21        Tandem axle               3000 pounds
22        Gross                     5000 pounds
23    (g) The Department is authorized to adopt, amend, and to
24make available to interested persons a policy concerning
25reasonable rules, limitations and conditions or provisions of
26operation upon highways under its jurisdiction in addition to

 

 

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1those contained in this Section for the movement by special
2permit of vehicles, combinations, or loads which cannot
3reasonably be dismantled or disassembled, including
4manufactured and modular home sections and portions thereof.
5All rules, limitations and conditions or provisions adopted in
6the policy shall have due regard for the safety of the
7traveling public and the protection of the highway system and
8shall have been promulgated in conformity with the provisions
9of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The requirements
10of the policy for flagmen and escort vehicles shall be the same
11for all moves of comparable size and weight. When escort
12vehicles are required, they shall meet the following
13requirements:
14        (1) All operators shall be 18 years of age or over and
15    properly licensed to operate the vehicle.
16        (2) Vehicles escorting oversized loads more than 12
17    feet 12-feet wide must be equipped with a rotating or
18    flashing amber light mounted on top as specified under
19    Section 12-215.
20    The Department shall establish reasonable rules and
21regulations regarding liability insurance or self insurance
22for vehicles with oversized loads promulgated under the
23Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Police vehicles may be
24required for escort under circumstances as required by rules
25and regulations of the Department.
26    (h) Violation of any rule, limitation or condition or

 

 

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1provision of any permit issued in accordance with the
2provisions of this Section shall not render the entire permit
3null and void but the violator shall be deemed guilty of
4violation of permit and guilty of exceeding any size, weight,
5or load limitations in excess of those authorized by the
6permit. The prescribed route or routes on the permit are not
7mere rules, limitations, conditions, or provisions of the
8permit, but are also the sole extent of the authorization
9granted by the permit. If a vehicle and load are found to be
10off the route or routes prescribed by any permit authorizing
11movement, the vehicle and load are operating without a permit.
12Any off-route movement shall be subject to the size and weight
13maximums, under the applicable provisions of this Chapter, as
14determined by the type or class highway upon which the vehicle
15and load are being operated.
16    (i) Whenever any vehicle is operated or movement made under
17a fraudulent permit, the permit shall be void, and the person,
18firm, or corporation to whom such permit was granted, the
19driver of such vehicle in addition to the person who issued
20such permit and any accessory, shall be guilty of fraud and
21either one or all persons may be prosecuted for such violation.
22Any person, firm, or corporation committing such violation
23shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony and the Department shall
24not issue permits to the person, firm, or corporation convicted
25of such violation for a period of one year after the date of
26conviction. Penalties for violations of this Section shall be

 

 

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1in addition to any penalties imposed for violation of other
2Sections of this Code.
3    (j) Whenever any vehicle is operated or movement made in
4violation of a permit issued in accordance with this Section,
5the person to whom such permit was granted, or the driver of
6such vehicle, is guilty of such violation and either, but not
7both, persons may be prosecuted for such violation as stated in
8this subsection (j). Any person, firm, or corporation convicted
9of such violation shall be guilty of a petty offense and shall
10be fined, for the first offense, not less than $50 nor more
11than $200 and, for the second offense by the same person, firm,
12or corporation within a period of one year, not less than $200
13nor more than $300 and, for the third offense by the same
14person, firm, or corporation within a period of one year after
15the date of the first offense, not less than $300 nor more than
16$500 and the Department may, in its discretion descretion, not
17issue permits to the person, firm, or corporation convicted of
18a third offense during a period of one year after the date of
19conviction or supervision for such third offense. If any
20violation is the cause or contributing cause in a motor vehicle
21accident causing damage to property, injury, or death to a
22person, the Department may, in its discretion, not issue a
23permit to the person, firm, or corporation for a period of one
24year after the date of conviction or supervision for the
25offense.
26    (k) Whenever any vehicle is operated on local roads under

 

 

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1permits for excess width or length issued by local authorities,
2such vehicle may be moved upon a State highway for a distance
3not to exceed one-half mile without a permit for the purpose of
4crossing the State highway.
5    (l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section,
6the Department, with respect to highways under its
7jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways
8under their jurisdiction, may at their discretion authorize the
9movement of a vehicle in violation of any size or weight
10requirement, or both, that would not ordinarily be eligible for
11a permit, when there is a showing of extreme necessity that the
12vehicle and load should be moved without unnecessary delay.
13    For the purpose of this subsection, showing of extreme
14necessity shall be limited to the following: shipments of
15livestock, hazardous materials, liquid concrete being hauled
16in a mobile cement mixer, or hot asphalt.
17    (m) Penalties for violations of this Section shall be in
18addition to any penalties imposed for violating any other
19Section of this Code.
20    (n) The Department with respect to highways under its
21jurisdiction and local authorities with respect to highways
22under their jurisdiction, in their discretion and upon
23application in writing, may issue a special permit for
24continuous limited operation, authorizing the applicant to
25operate a tow truck that exceeds the weight limits provided for
26in subsection (a) of Section 15-111, provided:

 

 

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1        (1) no rear single axle of the tow truck exceeds 26,000
2    pounds;
3        (2) no rear tandem axle of the tow truck exceeds 50,000
4    pounds;
5        (2.1) no triple rear axle on a manufactured recovery
6    unit exceeds 60,000 pounds;
7        (3) neither the disabled vehicle nor the disabled
8    combination of vehicles exceed the weight restrictions
9    imposed by this Chapter 15, or the weight limits imposed
10    under a permit issued by the Department prior to hookup;
11        (4) the tow truck prior to hookup does not exceed the
12    weight restrictions imposed by this Chapter 15;
13        (5) during the tow operation the tow truck does not
14    violate any weight restriction sign;
15        (6) the tow truck is equipped with flashing, rotating,
16    or oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet
17    in all directions;
18        (7) the tow truck is specifically designed and licensed
19    as a tow truck;
20        (8) the tow truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of
21    sufficient capacity to safely handle the load;
22        (9) the tow truck is equipped with air brakes;
23        (10) the tow truck is capable of utilizing the lighting
24    and braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination
25    of vehicles;
26        (11) the tow commences at the initial point of wreck or

 

 

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1    disablement and terminates at a point where the repairs are
2    actually to occur;
3        (12) the permit issued to the tow truck is carried in
4    the tow truck and exhibited on demand by a police officer;
5    and
6        (13) the movement shall be valid only on State routes
7    approved by the Department.
8    (o) (Blank).
9    (p) In determining whether a load may be reasonably
10dismantled or disassembled for the purpose of subsection (a),
11the Department shall consider whether there is a significant
12negative impact on the condition of the pavement and structures
13along the proposed route, whether the load or vehicle as
14proposed causes a safety hazard to the traveling public,
15whether dismantling or disassembling the load promotes or
16stifles economic development, and whether the proposed route
17travels less than 5 miles. A load is not required to be
18dismantled or disassembled for the purposes of subsection (a)
19if the Secretary of the Department determines there will be no
20significant negative impact to pavement or structures along the
21proposed route, the proposed load or vehicle causes no safety
22hazard to the traveling public, dismantling or disassembling
23the load does not promote economic development, and the
24proposed route travels less than 5 miles. The Department may
25promulgate rules for the purpose of establishing the
26divisibility of a load pursuant to subsection (a). Any load

 

 

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1determined by the Secretary to be nondivisible shall otherwise
2comply with the existing size or weight maximums specified in
3this Chapter.
4(Source: P.A. 99-717, eff. 8-5-16; 100-70, eff. 8-11-17;
5100-728, eff. 1-1-19; 100-830, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff.
68-14-18; 100-1090, eff. 1-1-19; revised 10-9-18.)
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
81, 2020.