Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB3964

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Full Text of HB3964 93rd General Assembly

Introduced
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HB3964 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2003 and 2004
HB3964

Introduced 12/17/2003, by Rep. Bill Mitchell

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/15-111   from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a person is not in violation of the Code's weight limitations if he or she is transporting agricultural products from the original place of production during the period from September 1 through November 30 of any calendar year and the total weight of the vehicle and load does not exceed the permissible weight by more than 10%. Provides that the exemption does not apply to weight limits imposed for bridges or to vehicles operated on interstate highways.

LRB093 14791 DRH 40348 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

HB3964 LRB093 14791 DRH 40348 b

1     AN ACT concerning 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 changing
5 Section 15-111 as follows:

6     (625 ILCS 5/15-111)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-111)
7     Sec. 15-111. Wheel and axle loads and gross weights.
8     (a) On non-designated highways, no vehicle or combination
9 of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires may be operated,
10 unladen or with load, when the total weight transmitted to the
11 road surface exceeds 18,000 pounds on a single axle or 32,000
12 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle within the tandem
13 exceeding 18,000 pounds except:
14         (1) when a different limit is established and posted in
15 accordance with Section 15-316 of this Code;
16         (2) vehicles for which the Department of
17 Transportation and local authorities issue overweight
18 permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this Code;
19         (3) tow trucks subject to the conditions provided in
20 subsection (d) may not exceed 24,000 pounds on a single
21 rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle;
22         (4) any single axle of a 2-axle truck weighing 36,000
23 pounds or less and not a part of a combination of vehicles,
24 shall not exceed 20,000 pounds;
25         (5) any single axle of a 2-axle truck equipped with a
26 personnel lift or digger derrick, weighing 36,000 pounds or
27 less, owned and operated by a public utility, shall not
28 exceed 20,000 pounds;
29         (6) any single axle of a 2-axle truck specially
30 equipped with a front loading compactor used exclusively
31 for garbage, refuse, or recycling may not exceed 20,000
32 pounds per axle, provided that the gross weight of the

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1 vehicle does not exceed 40,000 pounds;
2         (7) a truck, not in combination and specially equipped
3 with a selfcompactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and
4 roll-off container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse
5 operations may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface
6 the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single
7 axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle;
8         (8) a truck, not in combination and used exclusively
9 for the collection of rendering materials, may, when laden,
10 transmit upon the road surface the following maximum
11 weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a
12 tandem axle;
13         (9) tandem axles on a 3-axle truck registered as a
14 Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the
15 model year of 2014 and first registered in Illinois prior
16 to January 1, 2015, with a distance greater than 72 inches
17 but not more than 96 inches between any series of 2 axles,
18 is allowed a combined weight on the series not to exceed
19 36,000 pounds and neither axle of the series may exceed
20 18,000 pounds. Any vehicle of this type manufactured after
21 the model year of 2014 or first registered in Illinois
22 after December 31, 2014 may not exceed a combined weight of
23 32,000 pounds through the series of 2 axles and neither
24 axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds;
25         (10) tandem axles on a 4-axle truck mixer, whose fourth
26 axle is a road surface engaging mixer trailing axle,
27 registered as a Special Hauling Vehicle, used exclusively
28 for the mixing and transportation of concrete and
29 manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2014 and
30 first registered in Illinois prior to January 1, 2015, with
31 a distance greater than 72 inches but not more than 96
32 inches between any series of 2 axles, is allowed a combined
33 weight on the series not to exceed 36,000 pounds and
34 neither axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds. Any
35 vehicle of this type manufactured after the model year of
36 2014 or first registered in Illinois after December 31,

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1 2014 may not exceed a combined weight of 32,000 pounds
2 through the series of 2 axles and neither axle of the
3 series may exceed 18,000 pounds;
4         (11) 4-axle vehicles or a 5 or more axle combination of
5 vehicles: The weight transmitted upon the road surface
6 through any series of 3 axles whose centers are more than
7 96 inches apart, measured between extreme axles in the
8 series, may not exceed those allowed in the table contained
9 in subsection (f) of this Section. No axle or tandem axle
10 of the series may exceed the maximum weight permitted under
11 this Section for a single or tandem axle.
12     No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
13 than pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
14 upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
15 road surface through any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch
16 width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road
17 surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
18     (b) On non-designated highways, the gross weight of
19 vehicles and combination of vehicles including the weight of
20 the vehicle or combination and its maximum load shall be
21 subject to the foregoing limitations and further shall not
22 exceed the following gross weights dependent upon the number of
23 axles and distance between extreme axles of the vehicle or
24 combination measured longitudinally to the nearest foot.

25 VEHICLES HAVING 2 AXLES ....................... 36,000 pounds

26 VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS
27 HAVING 3 AXLES

28 With Tandem With or
29   Axles Without
30 Tandem Axles
31 Minimum Minimum
32 distance to Maximum distance to Maximum
33 nearest foot Gross nearest foot Gross
34 between Weight between Weight

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1 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
2 10 feet 41,000 16 feet 46,000
3 11 42,000 17 47,000
4 12 43,000 18 47,500
5 13 44,000 19 48,000
6 14 44,500 20 49,000
7 15 45,000 21 feet or more 50,000
8 VEHICLES OR COMBINATIONS HAVING 4 AXLES
9 Minimum Minimum
10 distance to Maximum distance to Maximum
11 nearest foot Gross nearest foot Gross
12 between Weight between Weight
13 extreme axles (pounds) extreme axles (pounds)
14 15 feet 50,000 26 feet 57,500
15 16 50,500 27 58,000
16 17 51,500 28 58,500
17 18 52,000 29 59,500
18 19 52,500 30 60,000
19 20 53,500 31 60,500
20 21 54,000 32 61,500
21 22 54,500 33 62,000
22 23 55,500 34 62,500
23 24 56,000 35 63,500
24 25 56,500 36 feet or more 64,000
25     A vehicle not in a combination having more than 4 axles may
26 not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (b) for 4
27 axles measured between the extreme axles of the vehicle.
28 COMBINATIONS HAVING 5 OR MORE AXLES
29 Minimum distance to Maximum
30 nearest foot between Gross Weight
31 extreme axles (pounds)
32 42 feet or less 72,000
33 43 73,000
34 44 feet or more 73,280
35 VEHICLES OPERATING ON CRAWLER TYPE TRACKS ..... 40,000 pounds

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1 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SELFCOMPACTORS
2 OR ROLL-OFF HOISTS AND ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS FOR GARBAGE
3 OR REFUSE HAULS ONLY AND TRUCKS USED FOR
4 THE COLLECTION OF RENDERING MATERIALS
5 On Highway Not Part of National System
6 of Interstate and Defense Highways
7 with 2 axles                                    36,000 pounds
8 with 3 axles                                    54,000 pounds

9 TWO AXLE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH
10 A FRONT LOADING COMPACTOR USED EXCLUSIVELY
11 FOR THE COLLECTION OF GARBAGE, REFUSE, OR RECYCLING
12 with 2 axles                                    40,000 pounds

13     (c) Cities having a population of more than 50,000 may
14 permit by ordinance axle loads on 2 axle motor vehicles 33 1/2%
15 above those provided for herein, but the increase shall not
16 become effective until the city has officially notified the
17 Department of the passage of the ordinance and shall not apply
18 to those vehicles when outside of the limits of the city, nor
19 shall the gross weight of any 2 axle motor vehicle operating
20 over any street of the city exceed 40,000 pounds.
21     (d) Weight limitations shall not apply to vehicles
22 (including loads) operated by a public utility when
23 transporting equipment required for emergency repair of public
24 utility facilities or properties or water wells.
25     A combination of vehicles, including a tow truck and a
26 disabled vehicle or disabled combination of vehicles, that
27 exceeds the weight restriction imposed by this Code, may be
28 operated on a public highway in this State provided that
29 neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor
30 the tow truck itself shall exceed the weight limitations
31 permitted under this Chapter. During the towing operation,
32 neither the tow truck nor the vehicle combination shall exceed
33 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle and 44,000 pounds on a

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1 tandem rear axle, provided the towing vehicle:
2         (1) is specifically designed as a tow truck having a
3 gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000 pounds and
4 is equipped with air brakes, provided that air brakes are
5 required only if the towing vehicle is towing a vehicle,
6 semitrailer, or tractor-trailer combination that is
7 equipped with air brakes;
8         (2) is equipped with flashing, rotating, or
9 oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet in
10 all directions;
11         (3) is capable of utilizing the lighting and braking
12 systems of the disabled vehicle or combination of vehicles;
13 and
14         (4) does not engage in a tow exceeding 20 miles from
15 the initial point of wreck or disablement. Any additional
16 movement of the vehicles may occur only upon issuance of
17 authorization for that movement under the provisions of
18 Sections 15-301 through 15-319 of this Code.
19     Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of
20 the tow truck and vehicles being towed. The tow truck license
21 plate must cover the operating empty weight of the tow truck
22 only. The weight of each vehicle being towed shall be covered
23 by a valid license plate issued to the owner or operator of the
24 vehicle being towed and displayed on that vehicle. If no valid
25 plate issued to the owner or operator of that vehicle is
26 displayed on that vehicle, or the plate displayed on that
27 vehicle does not cover the weight of the vehicle, the weight of
28 the vehicle shall be covered by the third tow truck plate
29 issued to the owner or operator of the tow truck and
30 temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed.
31     The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe
32 additional requirements. However, nothing in this Code shall
33 prohibit a tow truck under instructions of a police officer
34 from legally clearing a disabled vehicle, that may be in
35 violation of weight limitations of this Chapter, from the
36 roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway. If in the

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1 opinion of the police officer that location is unsafe, the
2 officer is authorized to have the disabled vehicle towed to the
3 nearest place of safety.
4     For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight
5 rating, or GVWR, shall mean the value specified by the
6 manufacturer as the loaded weight of the tow truck.
7     (e) No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with
8 pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon
9 the highways of this State in violation of the provisions of
10 any permit issued under the provisions of Sections 15-301
11 through 15-319 of this Chapter.
12     (f) On designated Class I, II, or III highways and the
13 National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, no vehicle
14 or combination of vehicles with pneumatic tires may be
15 operated, unladen or with load, when the total weight on the
16 road surface exceeds the following: 20,000 pounds on a single
17 axle; 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle within the
18 tandem exceeding 20,000 pounds; 80,000 pounds gross weight for
19 vehicle combinations of 5 or more axles; or a total weight on a
20 group of 2 or more consecutive axles in excess of that weight
21 produced by the application of the following formula: W = 500
22 times the sum of (LN divided by N-1) + 12N + 36, where "W"
23 equals overall total weight on any group of 2 or more
24 consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds, "L" equals the
25 distance measured to the nearest foot between extremes of any
26 group of 2 or more consecutive axles, and "N" equals the number
27 of axles in the group under consideration.
28     The above formula when expressed in tabular form results in
29 allowable loads as follows:

30 Distance measured
31 to the nearest
32 foot between the
33 extremes of any         Maximum weight in pounds
34 group of 2 or           of any group of
35 more consecutive        2 or more consecutive axles

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1 axles
2 feet 2 axles 3 axles 4 axles 5 axles 6 axles
3 4 34,000
4 5 34,000
5 6 34,000
6 7 34,000
7 8 38,000* 42,000
8 9 39,000 42,500
9 10 40,000 43,500
10 11 44,000
11 12 45,000 50,000
12 13 45,500 50,500
13 14 46,500 51,500
14 15 47,000 52,000
15 16 48,000 52,500 58,000
16 17 48,500 53,500 58,500
17 18 49,500 54,000 59,000
18 19 50,000 54,500 60,000
19 20 51,000 55,500 60,500 66,000
20 21 51,500 56,000 61,000 66,500
21 22 52,500 56,500 61,500 67,000
22 23 53,000 57,500 62,500 68,000
23 24 54,000 58,000 63,000 68,500
24 25 54,500 58,500 63,500 69,000
25 26 55,500 59,500 64,000 69,500
26 27 56,000 60,000 65,000 70,000
27 28 57,000 60,500 65,500 71,000
28 29 57,500 61,500 66,000 71,500
29 30 58,500 62,000 66,500 72,000
30 31 59,000 62,500 67,500 72,500
31 32 60,000 63,500 68,000 73,000
32 33 64,000 68,500 74,000
33 34 64,500 69,000 74,500
34 35 65,500 70,000 75,000
35 36 66,000 70,500 75,500
36 37 66,500 71,000 76,000
37 38 67,500 72,000 77,000
38 39 68,000 72,500 77,500
39 40 68,500 73,000 78,000
40 41 69,500 73,500 78,500
41 42 70,000 74,000 79,000
42 43 70,500 75,000 80,000
43 44 71,500 75,500
44 45 72,000 76,000
45 46 72,500 76,500
46 47 73,500 77,500
47 48 74,000 78,000
48 49 74,500 78,500
49 50 75,500 79,000
50 51 76,000 80,000
51 52 76,500
52 53 77,500
53 54 78,000
54 55 78,500
55 56 79,500
56 57 80,000
21 *If the distance between 2 axles is 96 inches or less, the 2
22 axles are tandem axles and the maximum total weight may not
23 exceed 34,000 pounds, notwithstanding the higher limit
24 resulting from the application of the formula.
25     Vehicles not in a combination having more than 4 axles may
26 not exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f) for 4
27 axles measured between the extreme axles of the vehicle.
28     Vehicles in a combination having more than 6 axles may not
29 exceed the weight in the table in this subsection (f) for 6
30 axles measured between the extreme axles of the combination.
31     Local authorities, with respect to streets and highways
32 under their jurisdiction, without additional fees, may also by
33 ordinance or resolution allow the weight limitations of this
34 subsection, provided the maximum gross weight on any one axle
35 shall not exceed 20,000 pounds and the maximum total weight on
36 any tandem axle shall not exceed 34,000 pounds, on designated

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1 highways when appropriate regulatory signs giving notice are
2 erected upon the street or highway or portion of any street or
3 highway affected by the ordinance or resolution.
4     The following are exceptions to the above formula:
5         (1) Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a
6 total weight of 34,000 pounds each if the overall distance
7 between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of
8 tandem axles is 36 feet or more.
9         (2) Vehicles for which a different limit is established
10 and posted in accordance with Section 15-316 of this Code.
11         (3) Vehicles for which the Department of
12 Transportation and local authorities issue overweight
13 permits under authority of Section 15-301 of this Code.
14 These vehicles are not subject to the bridge formula.
15         (4) Tow trucks subject to the conditions provided in
16 subsection (d) may not exceed 24,000 pounds on a single
17 rear axle or 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle.
18         (5) A tandem axle on a 3-axle truck registered as a
19 Special Hauling Vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the
20 model year of 2014, and registered in Illinois prior to
21 January 1, 2015, with a distance between 2 axles in a
22 series greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches
23 may not exceed a total weight of 36,000 pounds and neither
24 axle of the series may exceed 18,000 pounds.
25         (6) A truck not in combination, equipped with a self
26 compactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off
27 container, used exclusively for garbage or refuse
28 operations, may, when laden, transmit upon the road
29 surface, except when on part of the National System of
30 Interstate and Defense Highways, the following maximum
31 weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a
32 tandem axle; 36,000 pounds gross weight on a 2-axle
33 vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a 3-axle vehicle.
34 This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
35         (7) Combinations of vehicles, registered as Special
36 Hauling Vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured

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1 prior to or in the model year of 2014, and registered in
2 Illinois prior to January 1, 2015, having 5 axles with a
3 distance of 42 feet or less between extreme axles, may not
4 exceed the following maximum weights: 18,000 pounds on a
5 single axle; 32,000 pounds on a tandem axle; and 72,000
6 pounds gross weight. This combination of vehicles is not
7 subject to the bridge formula. For all those combinations
8 of vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured after
9 the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd
10 General Assembly, the overall distance between the first
11 and last axles of the 2 sets of tandems must be 18 feet 6
12 inches or more. Any combination of vehicles that has had
13 its cargo container replaced in its entirety after December
14 31, 2014 may not exceed the weights allowed by the bridge
15 formula.
16     No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other
17 than pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load,
18 upon the highways of this State when the gross weight on the
19 road surface through any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch
20 width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road
21 surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
22     (f-1) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds is
23 allowed access as follows:
24         (1) From any State designated highway onto any county,
25 township, or municipal highway for a distance of 5 highway
26 miles for the purpose of loading and unloading, provided:
27             (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 8 feet 6
28 inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
29             (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
30             (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
31 between State designated highways.
32         (2) From any State designated highway onto any county
33 or township highway for a distance of 5 highway miles, or
34 any municipal highway for a distance of one highway mile
35 for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs, and rest, provided:
36             (A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 8 feet 6

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1 inches in width and 65 feet overall length.
2             (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
3             (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
4 between State designated highways.
5     (f-2) A vehicle and load greater than 73,280 pounds in
6 weight but not exceeding 80,000 pounds is allowed access as
7 follows:
8         (1) From a Class I highway onto any street or highway
9 for a distance of one highway mile for the purpose of
10 loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and rest,
11 provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
12         (2) From a Class I, II, or III highway onto any State
13 highway or any local designated highway for a distance of 5
14 highway miles for the purpose of loading, unloading, food,
15 fuel, repairs, and rest.
16     Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
17 relating to procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the
18 designation of highways under this subsection.
19     (g) No person shall operate a vehicle or combination of
20 vehicles over a bridge or other elevated structure constituting
21 part of a highway with a gross weight that is greater than the
22 maximum weight permitted by the Department, when the structure
23 is sign posted as provided in this Section.
24     (h) The Department upon request from any local authority
25 shall, or upon its own initiative may, conduct an investigation
26 of any bridge or other elevated structure constituting a part
27 of a highway, and if it finds that the structure cannot with
28 safety to itself withstand the weight of vehicles otherwise
29 permissible under this Code the Department shall determine and
30 declare the maximum weight of vehicles that the structures can
31 withstand, and shall cause or permit suitable signs stating
32 maximum weight to be erected and maintained before each end of
33 the structure. No person shall operate a vehicle or combination
34 of vehicles over any structure with a gross weight that is
35 greater than the posted maximum weight.
36     (i) Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation

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1 of subsections (g) or (h) of this Section, proof of the
2 determination of the maximum allowable weight by the Department
3 and the existence of the signs, constitutes conclusive evidence
4 of the maximum weight that can be maintained with safety to the
5 bridge or structure.
6     (j) A person is not in violation of this Section if:
7         (1) he or she is transporting agricultural products
8 from the original place of production during the period
9 from September 1 through November 30 of any calendar year;
10 and
11         (2) the total weight of the vehicle and load does not
12 exceed the permissible weight by more than 10%.
13     (k) The exemption provided by subsection (j) does not
14 apply to:
15         (1) weight limits imposed for bridges; or
16         (2) vehicles operated on interstate highways.
17 (Source: P.A. 92-417, eff. 1-1-02; 93-177, eff. 7-11-03;
18 93-186, eff. 1-1-04; revised 8-12-03.)

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