093_SB0451eng
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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
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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
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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.)