95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB0301


 
Introduced 2/7/2007, by Sen. Kirk W. Dillard
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1










    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Makes a technical change in a provision concerning neighborhood electric vehicles.
















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A BILL FOR









 











SB0301

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    AN ACT concerning transportation.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:


 
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    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended  by changing 
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Section 11-1426.1 as follows:
 
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    (625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1)
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    Sec. 11-1426.1. Operation of neighborhood electric 
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vehicles on streets, roads, and highways.
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    (a) As used in this Section, "neighborhood electric 
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vehicle" means a self-propelled, electronically powered 
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4-wheeled
four-wheeled motor vehicle which is capable of 
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attaining in one mile a speed of  more than 20 miles per hour, 
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but not more than 25 miles per hour, and which conforms to 
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federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R. Part 571.500.
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    (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, it is 
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unlawful
for any person to drive or operate a neighborhood 
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electric vehicle
upon any street, highway, or roadway in this 
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State.  If the operation of a neighborhood electric vehicle is 
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authorized under subsection (d), the neighborhood electric 
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vehicle may be operated only on streets where the posted speed 
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limit is 35 miles per hour or less.  This subsection (b) does 
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not prohibit a neighborhood electric vehicle from crossing a 
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road or street at an intersection where the road or street has 
 


 






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a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
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    (b-5) A person may not operate a neighborhood electric 
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vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in this State 
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unless he or she has a valid Illinois driver's license issued 
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in his or her name by the Secretary of State.
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    (c) No person operating a neighborhood electric vehicle 
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shall make a direct crossing upon or across any highway under 
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the jurisdiction of the State, tollroad,
interstate highway, or 
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controlled access highway in this State.
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    (d) A municipality, township, county, or other unit of 
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local government may authorize, by ordinance or resolution, the 
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operation of neighborhood electric vehicles on roadways under 
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its jurisdiction if the unit of local government determines 
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that the public safety will not be jeopardized.  The Department 
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may authorize
the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles 
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on the roadways under its jurisdiction if the Department 
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determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized.
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    Before permitting the operation of neighborhood electric 
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vehicles on its roadways,
a municipality, township, county, 
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other unit of local government, or the Department must consider 
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the volume, speed, and character of traffic on the roadway and 
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determine whether neighborhood electric vehicles may safely 
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travel on or cross the roadway.  Upon determining that 
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neighborhood electric vehicles may safely operate on a roadway 
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and the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by a 
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municipality, township, county, or other unit of local 
 


 






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government, or authorization by the Department, appropriate 
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signs shall be posted.
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    If a roadway is under the jurisdiction of more than one 
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unit of government, neighborhood electric vehicles may not be 
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operated on the roadway unless each
unit of government agrees 
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and takes action as provided in this subsection.
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    (e) No neighborhood electric vehicle may be operated on a 
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roadway unless, at a minimum, it has
the following: brakes, a 
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steering apparatus, tires, a rearview mirror, red 
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reflectorized warning devices in the front and rear, a slow 
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moving emblem (as required of other vehicles in Section 12-709 
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of this Code) on the rear of the neighborhood electric vehicle, 
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a headlight that emits a white light visible from a distance of 
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500 feet to the front, a tail lamp that emits a
red light 
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visible from at least 100 feet from the rear, brake lights, and 
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turn signals.  When operated on a roadway, a neighborhood 
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electric vehicle shall have its headlight and tail lamps 
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lighted as required by Section 12-201 of this Code.
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    (f) A person who drives or is in actual physical control of 
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a neighborhood electric vehicle on a roadway while under the 
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influence is subject to Sections 11-500 through 11-502 of this 
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Code.

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(Source: P.A. 94-298, eff. 1-1-06.)