093_HB2229
LRB093 08542 DRH 08768 b
1 AN ACT in relation to vehicles.
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
5 changing Section 12-201 as follows:
6 (625 ILCS 5/12-201) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-201)
7 Sec. 12-201. When lighted lamps are required.
8 (a) When operated upon any highway in this State, every
9 motorcycle shall at all times exhibit at least one lighted
10 lamp, showing a white light visible for at least 500 feet in
11 the direction the motorcycle is proceeding. However, in lieu
12 of such lighted lamp, a motorcycle may be equipped with and
13 use a means of modulating the upper beam of the head lamp
14 between high and a lower brightness. No such head lamp shall
15 be modulated, except to otherwise comply with this Code,
16 during times when lighted lamps are required for other motor
17 vehicles.
18 (b) All other motor vehicles shall exhibit at least 2
19 lighted head lamps, with at least one on each side of the
20 front of the vehicle, which satisfy United States Department
21 of Transportation requirements, showing white lights,
22 including that emitted by high intensity discharge (HID)
23 lamps, or lights of a yellow or amber tint, during the period
24 from sunset to sunrise, at times when rain, snow, fog, or
25 other atmospheric conditions require the use of windshield
26 wipers, and at any other times when, due to insufficient
27 light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and
28 vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a
29 distance of 1000 feet. Parking lamps may be used in addition
30 to but not in lieu of such head lamps. Every motor vehicle,
31 trailer, or semi-trailer shall also exhibit at least 2
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1 lighted lamps, commonly known as tail lamps, which shall be
2 mounted on the left rear and right rear of the vehicle so as
3 to throw a red light visible for at least 500 feet in the
4 reverse direction, except that a truck tractor or road
5 tractor manufactured before January 1, 1968 and all
6 motorcycles need be equipped with only one such tail lamp.
7 (c) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so
8 constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light a
9 rear registration plate when required and render it clearly
10 legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. Any tail lamp
11 or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp or lamps for
12 illuminating a rear registration plate, shall be so wired as
13 to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving
14 lamps are lighted.
15 (d) A person shall install only head lamps that satisfy
16 United States Department of Transportation regulations and
17 show white light, including that emitted by HID lamps, or
18 light of a yellow or amber tint for use by a motor vehicle.
19 (e) For purposes of this Section, except as provided in
20 subsection (f), a custom vehicle or street rod is considered
21 to be in compliance with all vehicle lamp requirements if it
22 has passed the approved safety inspection provided for in
23 Section 3-804.1 or 3-804.2.
24 (f) It is a violation of this Section to install or to
25 leave in place any tinted covering, other than the
26 authorized red, white, yellow, amber, or clear covering, over
27 any head lamp or tail lamp of any vehicle.
28 (Source: P.A. 91-130, eff. 1-1-00; 91-135, eff. 1-1-00;
29 92-16, eff. 6-28-01; 92-668, eff. 1-1-03.)