093_SB0451eng SB451 Engrossed LRB093 06728 DRH 06862 b 1 AN ACT in relation to 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 5 changing Section 12-608 as follows: 6 (625 ILCS 5/12-608) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-608) 7 Sec. 12-608. Bumpers. 8 (a) It shall be unlawful to operate any motor vehicle 9 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds or less or 10 any motor vehicle registered as a recreational vehicle under 11 this Code on any highway of this State unless such motor 12 vehicle is equipped with both a front and rear bumper. 13 Except as indicated below, maximum bumper heights of such 14 motor vehicles shall be determined by weight category of 15 gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) measured from a level 16 surface to the highest point of the bottom of the bumper when 17 the vehicle is unloaded and the tires are inflated to the 18 manufacturer's recommended pressure. 19 Maximum bumper heights are as follows: 20 Maximum Front Maximum Rear 21 Bumper height Bumper Height 22 All motor vehicles of the first 23 division except multipurpose 24 passenger vehicles: 22 inches 22 inches 25 Multipurpose passenger vehicles and 26 all other motor vehicles: 27 4,500 lbs. and under GVWR 24 inches 26 inches 28 4,501 lbs. through 7,500 29 lbs. GVWR 27 inches 29 inches 30 7,501 lbs. through 9,000 31 lbs. GVWR 28 inches 30 inches SB451 Engrossed -2- LRB093 06728 DRH 06862 b 1 It is unlawful to operate upon any highway of this State 2 any vehicle with a front bumper height that exceeds 28 inches 3 or a rear bumper height that exceeds 30 inches, regardless of 4 the GVWR of the vehicle, except those vehicles covered by 5 Chapter 18b of this Code. 6 For any vehicle with bumpers or attaching components 7 which have been modified or altered from the original 8 manufacturer's design in order to conform with the maximum 9 bumper requirements of this section, the bumper height shall 10 be measured from a level surface to the bottom of the vehicle 11 frame rail at the most forward and rearward points of the 12 frame rail. The bumper on any vehicle so modified or altered 13 shall be at least 4.5 inches in vertical height and extend no 14 less than the width of the respective wheel tracks outermost 15 distance. 16 However, nothing in this Section shall prevent the 17 installation of bumper guards. 18 (b) This Section shall not apply to street rods, custom 19 vehicles, motor vehicles designed or modified primarily for 20 off-highway purposes while such vehicles are in tow or to 21 motorcycles or motor driven cycles, nor to motor vehicles 22 registered as antique vehicles when the original design of 23 such antique vehicles did not include bumpers. The provisions 24 of this Section shall not apply to any motor vehicle driven 25 during the first 1000 recorded miles of that vehicle, when 26 such vehicle is owned or operated by a manufacturer, dealer 27 or transporter displaying a special plate or plates as 28 described in Chapter 3 of this Code while such vehicle is (1) 29 being delivered from the manufacturing or assembly plant 30 directly to the purchasing dealer or distributor, or from one 31 dealership or distributor to another; (2) being moved by the 32 most direct route from one location to another for the 33 purpose of installing special bodies or equipment; or (3) 34 being driven for purposes of demonstration by a prospective SB451 Engrossed -3- LRB093 06728 DRH 06862 b 1 buyer with the dealer or his agent present in the cab of the 2 vehicle during the demonstration. 3 The dealer shall, prior to the receipt of any deposit 4 made or any contract signed by the buyer to secure the 5 purchase of a vehicle, inform such buyer, by written 6 statement signed by the purchaser to indicate acknowledgement 7 of the contents thereof, of the legal requirements of this 8 Section regarding front and rear bumpers if such vehicle is 9 not to be equipped with bumpers at the time of delivery. 10 (c) Any violation of this Section is a Class C 11 misdemeanor. A second conviction under this Section shall be 12 punishable with a fine of not less than $500. An officer 13 making an arrest under this Section shall order the vehicle 14 driver to remove the vehicle from the highway. A person 15 convicted under this Section shall be ordered to bring his 16 vehicle into compliance with this Section. 17 (Source: P.A. 92-668, eff. 1-1-03.)