Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 094-0298
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Public Act 094-0298


 

Public Act 0298 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 


 
Public Act 094-0298
 
SB0025 Enrolled LRB094 00036 RLC 30036 b

    AN ACT concerning vehicles.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding
Section 11-1426.1 as follows:
 
    (625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1 new)
    Sec. 11-1426.1. Operation of neighborhood electric
vehicles on streets, roads, and highways.
    (a) As used in this Section, "neighborhood electric
vehicle" means a self-propelled, electronically powered
four-wheeled motor vehicle which is capable of attaining in one
mile a speed of more than 20 miles per hour, but not more than
25 miles per hour, and which conforms to federal regulations
under Title 49 C.F.R. Part 571.500.
    (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, it is
unlawful for any person to drive or operate a neighborhood
electric vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in this
State. If the operation of a neighborhood electric vehicle is
authorized under subsection (d), the neighborhood electric
vehicle may be operated only on streets where the posted speed
limit is 35 miles per hour or less. This subsection (b) does
not prohibit a neighborhood electric vehicle from crossing a
road or street at an intersection where the road or street has
a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
    (b-5) A person may not operate a neighborhood electric
vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in this State
unless he or she has a valid Illinois driver's license issued
in his or her name by the Secretary of State.
    (c) No person operating a neighborhood electric vehicle
shall make a direct crossing upon or across any highway under
the jurisdiction of the State, tollroad, interstate highway, or
controlled access highway in this State.
    (d) A municipality, township, county, or other unit of
local government may authorize, by ordinance or resolution, the
operation of neighborhood electric vehicles on roadways under
its jurisdiction if the unit of local government determines
that the public safety will not be jeopardized. The Department
may authorize the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles
on the roadways under its jurisdiction if the Department
determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized.
    Before permitting the operation of neighborhood electric
vehicles on its roadways, a municipality, township, county,
other unit of local government, or the Department must consider
the volume, speed, and character of traffic on the roadway and
determine whether neighborhood electric vehicles may safely
travel on or cross the roadway. Upon determining that
neighborhood electric vehicles may safely operate on a roadway
and the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by a
municipality, township, county, or other unit of local
government, or authorization by the Department, appropriate
signs shall be posted.
    If a roadway is under the jurisdiction of more than one
unit of government, neighborhood electric vehicles may not be
operated on the roadway unless each unit of government agrees
and takes action as provided in this subsection.
    (e) No neighborhood electric vehicle may be operated on a
roadway unless, at a minimum, it has the following: brakes, a
steering apparatus, tires, a rearview mirror, red
reflectorized warning devices in the front and rear, a slow
moving emblem (as required of other vehicles in Section 12-709
of this Code) on the rear of the neighborhood electric vehicle,
a headlight that emits a white light visible from a distance of
500 feet to the front, a tail lamp that emits a red light
visible from at least 100 feet from the rear, brake lights, and
turn signals. When operated on a roadway, a neighborhood
electric vehicle shall have its headlight and tail lamps
lighted as required by Section 12-201 of this Code.
    (f) A person who drives or is in actual physical control of
a neighborhood electric vehicle on a roadway while under the
influence is subject to Sections 11-500 through 11-502 of this
Code.

Effective Date: 1/1/2006