103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1918

 

Introduced 2/9/2023, by Sen. Neil Anderson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1
625 ILCS 5/11-1426.3 new

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Permits the operation of recreational off-highway vehicles meeting certain criteria on any street, roadway, or highway in the State, unless the highway is an interstate system, is near a grade-separated portion of the highway, is within a municipality, or has a posted speed limit higher than 55 miles per hour. Provides that a recreational off-highway vehicle may be registered in the same manner as provided for snowmobiles and shall comply with the registration, fees, insurance, and other requirements for snowmobiles under the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act. Provides for the distribution of registration fees. Outlines the vehicle equipment requirements for the operation of a recreational off-highway vehicle on a roadway.


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A BILL FOR

 

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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
5changing Section 11-1426.1 and by adding Section 11-1426.3 as
6follows:
 
7    (625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1)
8    Sec. 11-1426.1. Operation of non-highway vehicles on
9streets, roads, and highways.
10    (a) As used in this Section, "non-highway vehicle" means a
11motor vehicle not specifically designed to be used on a public
12highway, including:
13        (1) an all-terrain vehicle, as defined by Section
14    1-101.8 of this Code;
15        (2) a golf cart, as defined by Section 1-123.9;
16        (3) an off-highway motorcycle, as defined by Section
17    1-153.1; and
18        (4) (blank). a recreational off-highway vehicle, as
19    defined by Section 1-168.8.
20    (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, it is
21unlawful for any person to drive or operate a non-highway
22vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in this State. If
23the operation of a non-highway vehicle is authorized under

 

 

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1subsection (d), the non-highway vehicle may be operated only
2on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or
3less. This subsection (b) does not prohibit a non-highway
4vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection
5where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than
635 miles per hour.
7    (b-5) A person may not operate a non-highway vehicle upon
8any street, highway, or roadway in this State unless he or she
9has a valid driver's license issued in his or her name by the
10Secretary of State or by a foreign jurisdiction.
11    (c) No person operating a non-highway vehicle shall make a
12direct crossing upon or across any tollroad, interstate
13highway, or controlled access highway in this State. No person
14operating a non-highway vehicle shall make a direct crossing
15upon or across any other highway under the jurisdiction of the
16State except at an intersection of the highway with another
17public street, road, or highway.
18    (c-5) (Blank).
19    (d) A municipality, township, county, or other unit of
20local government may authorize, by ordinance or resolution,
21the operation of non-highway vehicles on roadways under its
22jurisdiction if the unit of local government determines that
23the public safety will not be jeopardized. The Department may
24authorize the operation of non-highway vehicles on the
25roadways under its jurisdiction if the Department determines
26that the public safety will not be jeopardized. The unit of

 

 

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1local government or the Department may restrict the types of
2non-highway vehicles that are authorized to be used on its
3streets.
4    Before permitting the operation of non-highway vehicles on
5its roadways, a municipality, township, county, other unit of
6local government, or the Department must consider the volume,
7speed, and character of traffic on the roadway and determine
8whether non-highway vehicles may safely travel on or cross the
9roadway. Upon determining that non-highway vehicles may safely
10operate on a roadway and the adoption of an ordinance or
11resolution by a municipality, township, county, or other unit
12of local government, or authorization by the Department,
13appropriate signs shall be posted.
14    If a roadway is under the jurisdiction of more than one
15unit of government, non-highway vehicles may not be operated
16on the roadway unless each unit of government agrees and takes
17action as provided in this subsection.
18    (e) No non-highway vehicle may be operated on a roadway
19unless, at a minimum, it has the following: brakes, a steering
20apparatus, tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning
21devices in the front and rear, a slow moving emblem (as
22required of other vehicles in Section 12-709 of this Code) on
23the rear of the non-highway vehicle, a headlight that emits a
24white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front, a
25tail lamp that emits a red light visible from at least 100 feet
26from the rear, brake lights, and turn signals. When operated

 

 

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1on a roadway, a non-highway vehicle shall have its headlight
2and tail lamps lighted as required by Section 12-201 of this
3Code.
4    (f) A person who drives or is in actual physical control of
5a non-highway vehicle on a roadway while under the influence
6is subject to Sections 11-500 through 11-502 of this Code.
7    (g) Any person who operates a non-highway vehicle on a
8street, highway, or roadway shall be subject to the mandatory
9insurance requirements under Article VI of Chapter 7 of this
10Code.
11    (h) It shall not be unlawful for any person to drive or
12operate a non-highway vehicle, as defined in paragraph
13paragraphs (1) and (4) of subsection (a) of this Section, on a
14county roadway or township roadway for the purpose of
15conducting farming operations to and from the home, farm, farm
16buildings, and any adjacent or nearby farm land.
17    Non-highway vehicles, as used in this subsection (h),
18shall not be subject to subsections (e) and (g) of this
19Section. However, if the non-highway vehicle, as used in this
20Section, is not covered under a motor vehicle insurance policy
21pursuant to subsection (g) of this Section, the vehicle must
22be covered under a farm, home, or non-highway vehicle
23insurance policy issued with coverage amounts no less than the
24minimum amounts set for bodily injury or death and for
25destruction of property under Section 7-203 of this Code.
26Non-highway vehicles operated on a county or township roadway

 

 

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1at any time between one-half hour before sunset and one-half
2hour after sunrise must be equipped with head lamps and tail
3lamps, and the head lamps and tail lamps must be lighted.
4    Non-highway vehicles, as used in this subsection (h),
5shall not make a direct crossing upon or across any tollroad,
6interstate highway, or controlled access highway in this
7State.
8    Non-highway vehicles, as used in this subsection (h),
9shall be allowed to cross a State highway, municipal street,
10county highway, or road district highway if the operator of
11the non-highway vehicle makes a direct crossing provided:
12        (1) the crossing is made at an angle of approximately
13    90 degrees to the direction of the street, road or highway
14    and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and
15    safe crossing;
16        (2) the non-highway vehicle is brought to a complete
17    stop before attempting a crossing;
18        (3) the operator of the non-highway vehicle yields the
19    right of way to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic which
20    constitutes a hazard; and
21        (4) that when crossing a divided highway, the crossing
22    is made only at an intersection of the highway with
23    another public street, road, or highway.
24    (i) No action taken by a unit of local government under
25this Section designates the operation of a non-highway vehicle
26as an intended or permitted use of property with respect to

 

 

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1Section 3-102 of the Local Governmental and Governmental
2Employees Tort Immunity Act.
3(Source: P.A. 97-144, eff. 7-14-11; 98-567, eff. 1-1-14.)
 
4    (625 ILCS 5/11-1426.3 new)
5    Sec. 11-1426.3. Operation of a recreational off-highway
6vehicle on streets, roads, and highways.
7    (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), an individual
8may operate a recreational off-highway vehicle, as defined by
9Section 1-101.8, on a street, roadway, or highway if the
10recreational off-highway vehicle has a combustion engine with
11a piston or rotor displacement of 400 cubic centimeters or
12greater and is capable of maintaining speeds of 40 miles per
13hour or greater.
14    (b) An individual may not operate a recreational
15off-highway vehicle on a highway if:
16        (1) the highway is an interstate system;
17        (2) the highway is near a grade-separated portion of
18    the highway;
19        (3) the highway is within a municipality; or
20        (4) the highway has a posted speed limit higher than
21    55 miles per hour.
22    Nothing in this Section authorizes the operation of a
23recreational off-highway vehicle in an area that is not open
24to motor vehicle use.
25    (c) A recreational off-highway vehicle may be registered

 

 

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1in the same manner as provided for snowmobiles and shall
2comply with the registration, fees, insurance, and other
3requirements for snowmobiles under the Snowmobile Registration
4and Safety Act.
5    Of the $45 registration fee, $35 shall be distributed to
6the Department of Natural Resource programs as follows: (i)
7$10 to Kids for Conservation; (ii) $10 to the Mud to Parks
8Program; (iii) $5 to Deer Management; and (iv) $5 to the
9Partners for Conservation Program. The remaining $15 shall be
10used to implement and administer this Section.
11    (d) The owner of a recreational off-highway vehicle shall
12ensure that the vehicle is equipped with:
13        (1) 2 headlamps;
14        (2) 2 tail lamps;
15        (3) 2 brake lamps;
16        (4) a tail lamp or other lamp constructed and placed
17    to illuminate the registration plate with a white light;
18        (5) one or more red reflectors on the rear;
19        (6) amber or red flashing electric turn signals, one
20    on each side of the front and rear;
21        (7) a braking system, other than a parking brake;
22        (8) a horn or other warning device;
23        (9) a muffler and, if required by an applicable
24    federal statute or regulation, an emission control system;
25        (10) rearview mirrors on the right and left side of
26    the driver;

 

 

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1        (11) a windshield, unless the operator wears eye
2    protection while operating the vehicle;
3        (12) a speedometer, illuminated for nighttime
4    operation;
5        (13) for vehicles designed by the manufacturer for
6    carrying one or more passengers, a bench seat or
7    side-by-side seat equipped with a seat safety belt for
8    each passenger;
9        (14) 4 wheels in contact with the ground, with tires
10    that have at least 2/32 inches or greater tire tread; and
11        (15) a roll cage.
12    (e) It shall not be unlawful for any person to drive or
13operate a recreational off-highway vehicle on a county roadway
14or township roadway for the purpose of conducting farming
15operations to and from the home, farm, farm buildings, and any
16adjacent or nearby farm land.