HB5506 Engrossed LRB094 17700 DRH 52998 b

1     AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5 Section 15-102 as follows:
 
6     (625 ILCS 5/15-102)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-102)
7     Sec. 15-102. Width of Vehicles.
8     (a) On Class III and non-designated State and local
9 highways, the total outside width of any vehicle or load
10 thereon shall not exceed 8 feet.
11     (b) Except during those times when, due to insufficient
12 light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and
13 vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a
14 distance of 1000 feet, the following vehicles may exceed the 8
15 feet limitation during the period from a half hour before
16 sunrise to a half hour after sunset:
17         (1) Loads of hay, straw or other similar farm products
18     provided that the load is not more than 12 feet wide.
19         (2) Implements of husbandry being transported on
20     another vehicle and the transporting vehicle while loaded.
21         The following requirements apply to the transportation
22     on another vehicle of an implement of husbandry wider than
23     8 feet 6 inches on the National System of Interstate and
24     Defense Highways or other highways in the system of State
25     highways:
26             (A) The driver of a vehicle transporting an
27         implement of husbandry that exceeds 8 feet 6 inches in
28         width shall obey all traffic laws and shall check the
29         roadways prior to making a movement in order to ensure
30         that adequate clearance is available for the movement.
31         It is prima facie evidence that the driver of a vehicle
32         transporting an implement of husbandry has failed to

 

 

HB5506 Engrossed - 2 - LRB094 17700 DRH 52998 b

1         check the roadway prior to making a movement if the
2         vehicle is involved in a collision with a bridge,
3         overpass, fixed structure, or properly placed traffic
4         control device or if the vehicle blocks traffic due to
5         its inability to proceed because of a bridge, overpass,
6         fixed structure, or properly placed traffic control
7         device.
8             (B) Flags shall be displayed so as to wave freely
9         at the extremities of overwidth objects and at the
10         extreme ends of all protrusions, projections, and
11         overhangs. All flags shall be clean, bright red flags
12         with no advertising, wording, emblem, or insignia
13         inscribed upon them and at least 18 inches square.
14             (C) "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs are mandatory on the
15         front and rear of all vehicles with loads over 10 feet
16         wide. These signs must have 12-inch high black letters
17         with a 2-inch stroke on a yellow sign that is 7 feet
18         wide by 18 inches high.
19             (D) One civilian escort vehicle is required for a
20         load that exceeds 14 feet 6 inches in width and 2
21         civilian escort vehicles are required for a load that
22         exceeds 16 feet in width on the National System of
23         Interstate and Defense Highways or other highways in
24         the system of State highways.
25             (E) The requirements for a civilian escort vehicle
26         and driver are as follows:
27                 (1) The civilian escort vehicle shall be a
28             passenger car or a second division vehicle not
29             exceeding a gross vehicle weight of 8,000 pounds
30             that is designed to afford clear and unobstructed
31             vision to both front and rear.
32                 (2) The escort vehicle driver must be properly
33             licensed to operate the vehicle.
34                 (3) While in use, the escort vehicle must be
35             equipped with illuminated rotating, oscillating,
36             or flashing amber lights or flashing amber strobe

 

 

HB5506 Engrossed - 3 - LRB094 17700 DRH 52998 b

1             lights mounted on top that are of sufficient
2             intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal
3             sunlight.
4                 (4) "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs are mandatory on all
5             escort vehicles. The sign on an escort vehicle
6             shall have 8-inch high black letters on a yellow
7             sign that is 5 feet wide by 12 inches high.
8                 (5) When only one escort vehicle is required
9             and it is operating on a two-lane highway, the
10             escort vehicle shall travel approximately 300 feet
11             ahead of the load. The rotating, oscillating, or
12             flashing lights or flashing amber strobe lights
13             and an "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign shall be displayed on
14             the escort vehicle and shall be visible from the
15             front. When only one escort vehicle is required and
16             it is operating on a multilane divided highway, the
17             escort vehicle shall travel approximately 300 feet
18             behind the load and the sign and lights shall be
19             visible from the rear.
20                 (6) When 2 escort vehicles are required, one
21             escort shall travel approximately 300 feet ahead
22             of the load and the second escort shall travel
23             approximately 300 feet behind the load. The
24             rotating, oscillating, or flashing lights or
25             flashing amber strobe lights and an "OVERSIZE
26             LOAD" sign shall be displayed on the escort
27             vehicles and shall be visible from the front on the
28             lead escort and from the rear on the trailing
29             escort.
30                 (7) When traveling within the corporate limits
31             of a municipality, the escort vehicle shall
32             maintain a reasonable and proper distance from the
33             oversize load, consistent with existing traffic
34             conditions.
35                 (8) A separate escort shall be provided for
36             each load hauled.

 

 

HB5506 Engrossed - 4 - LRB094 17700 DRH 52998 b

1                 (9) The driver of an escort vehicle shall obey
2             all traffic laws.
3                 (10) The escort vehicle must be in safe
4             operational condition.
5                 (11) The driver of the escort vehicle must be
6             in radio contact with the driver of the vehicle
7             carrying the oversize load.
8             (F) A transport vehicle while under load of more
9         than 8 feet 6 inches in width must be equipped with an
10         illuminated rotating, oscillating, or flashing amber
11         light or lights or a flashing amber strobe light or
12         lights mounted on the top of the cab that are of
13         sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in
14         normal sunlight. If the load on the transport vehicle
15         blocks the visibility of the amber lighting from the
16         rear of the vehicle, the vehicle must also be equipped
17         with an illuminated rotating, oscillating, or flashing
18         amber light or lights or a flashing amber strobe light
19         or lights mounted on the rear of the load that are of
20         sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in
21         normal sunlight.
22             (G) When a flashing amber light is required on the
23         transport vehicle under load and it is operating on a
24         two-lane highway, the transport vehicle shall display
25         to the rear at least one rotating, oscillating, or
26         flashing light or a flashing amber strobe light and an
27         "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign. When a flashing amber light is
28         required on the transport vehicle under load and it is
29         operating on a multilane divided highway, the sign and
30         light shall be visible from the rear.
31             (H) Maximum speed shall be 45 miles per hour on all
32         such moves or 5 miles per hour above the posted minimum
33         speed limit, whichever is greater, but the vehicle
34         shall not at any time exceed the posted maximum speed
35         limit.
36         (3) Portable buildings designed and used for

 

 

HB5506 Engrossed - 5 - LRB094 17700 DRH 52998 b

1     agricultural and livestock raising operations that are not
2     more than 14 feet wide and with not more than a 1 foot
3     overhang along the left side of the hauling vehicle.
4     However, the buildings shall not be transported more than
5     10 miles and not on any route that is part of the National
6     System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
7     All buildings when being transported shall display at least
8 2 red cloth flags, not less than 12 inches square, mounted as
9 high as practicable on the left and right side of the building.
10     A State Police escort shall be required if it is necessary
11 for this load to use part of the left lane when crossing any 2
12 laned State highway bridge.
13     (c) Vehicles propelled by electric power obtained from
14 overhead trolley wires operated wholly within the corporate
15 limits of a municipality are also exempt from the width
16 limitation.
17     (d) Exemptions are also granted to vehicles designed for
18 the carrying of more than 10 persons under the following
19 conditions:
20         (1) (Blank);
21         (2) When operated within any public transportation
22     service with the approval of local authorities or an
23     appropriate public body authorized by law to provide public
24     transportation. Any vehicle so operated may be 8 feet 6
25     inches in width; or
26         (3) When a county engineer or superintendent of
27     highways, after giving due consideration to the mass
28     transportation needs of the area and to the width and
29     condition of the road, has determined that the operation of
30     buses wider than 8 feet will not pose an undue safety
31     hazard on a particular county or township road segment, he
32     or she may authorize buses not to exceed 8 feet 6 inches in
33     width on any highway under that engineer's or
34     superintendent's jurisdiction.
35     (d-5) A recreational vehicle, as defined in Section 1-169,
36 may exceed 8 feet 6 inches in width if the excess width is

 

 

HB5506 Engrossed - 6 - LRB094 17700 DRH 52998 b

1 attributable to appurtenances that extend 6 inches or less
2 beyond either side of the body of the vehicle. As used in this
3 Section, an "appurtenance" includes (i) a retracted awning and
4 its support hardware and (ii) any appendage that is intended to
5 be an integral part of a recreational vehicle.
6     (e) A vehicle and load traveling upon the National System
7 of Interstate and Defense Highways or any other highway in the
8 system of State highways that has been designated as a Class I
9 or Class II highway by the Department, or any street or highway
10 designated by local authorities, may have a total outside width
11 of 8 feet 6 inches, provided that certain safety devices that
12 the Department determines as necessary for the safe and
13 efficient operation of motor vehicles shall not be included in
14 the calculation of width.
15     (e-1) A vehicle and load more than 8 feet wide but not
16 exceeding 8 feet 6 inches in width is allowed access according
17 to the following:
18         (1) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds in
19     weight is allowed access from any State designated highway
20     onto any county, township, or municipal highway for a
21     distance of 5 highway miles for the purpose of loading and
22     unloading, provided:
23             (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 65 feet
24         overall length.
25             (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
26             (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
27         between State designated highways.
28         (2) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds in
29     weight is allowed access from any State designated highway
30     onto any county or township highway for a distance of 5
31     highway miles or onto any municipal highway for a distance
32     of one highway mile for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs,
33     and rest, provided:
34             (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 65 feet
35         overall length.
36             (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.

 

 

HB5506 Engrossed - 7 - LRB094 17700 DRH 52998 b

1             (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
2         between State designated highways.
3         (3) A vehicle and load not exceeding 80,000 pounds in
4     weight is allowed access from a Class I highway onto any
5     street or highway for a distance of one highway mile for
6     the purpose of loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and
7     rest, provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
8         (4) A vehicle and load not exceeding 80,000 pounds in
9     weight is allowed access from a Class I or Class II highway
10     onto any State highway or any locally designated highway
11     for a distance of 5 highway miles for the purpose of
12     loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest.
13         (5) A trailer or semi-trailer not exceeding 28 feet 6
14     inches in length, that was originally in combination with a
15     truck tractor, shall have unlimited access to points of
16     loading and unloading.
17         (6) All household goods carriers shall have unlimited
18     access to points of loading and unloading.
19     Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
20 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
21 designation of highways under this paragraph (e).
22     (f) Mirrors required by Section 12-502 of this Code and
23 other safety devices identified by the Department may project
24 up to 14 inches beyond each side of a bus and up to 6 inches
25 beyond each side of any other vehicle, and that projection
26 shall not be deemed a violation of the width restrictions of
27 this Section.
28     (g) Any person who is convicted of violating this Section
29 is subject to the penalty as provided in paragraph (b) of
30 Section 15-113.
31 (Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02; 93-177, eff. 7-11-03.)