Public Act 097-0883
 
SB2579 EnrolledLRB097 16494 HEP 61662 b


  
    AN ACT concerning transportation.
  
 
    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 changing 
Section 15-107 as follows:
 


    (625 ILCS 5/15-107)
  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-107)


    Sec. 15-107. Length of vehicles. 

    (a) The maximum length of a single vehicle on any highway 
of this State
may not exceed  42 feet except the following:


        (1) Semitrailers.


        (2) Charter or regulated route buses may be up to 45 
    feet in length, not
including energy absorbing bumpers.

    (a-1) A motor home as defined in Section 1-145.01 may be up 
to 45 feet
in length, not including energy absorbing bumpers.  
The length limitations
described in this subsection (a-1) shall 
be exclusive of energy-absorbing
bumpers and rear view mirrors.

    (b) On all non-State highways, the maximum length of 
vehicles in
combinations
is as follows:


        (1) A truck tractor in combination with a semitrailer 
    may
not exceed 55 feet overall dimension.


        (2) A truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer or truck 
    tractor semitrailer-semitrailer may not exceed 60 feet

    overall dimension.


        (3) Combinations specially designed to transport motor 
    vehicles or
boats may not exceed 60 feet overall dimension.

    Vehicles operating during daylight hours when transporting 
poles, pipes,
machinery, or other objects of a structural  
nature  that  cannot  readily  be
dismembered are exempt from 
length limitations, provided that no object may
exceed 80 feet 
in length and the overall dimension of the vehicle including 
the
load
may not  exceed 100 feet.  This exemption does not apply 
to operation on a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.  Legal 
holidays referred to in this Section
are
the days on which the 
following traditional holidays are celebrated: New
Year's
Day; 
Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; 
and
Christmas Day.

    Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while en 
route to make
emergency repairs to public service facilities or 
properties are exempt from
length
limitations, provided that  
during night operations every vehicle and its load
must
be 
equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both 
sides and
marker lamps on the extreme ends of any projecting 
load to clearly mark the
dimensions of the load.

    A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle or 
combination of
disabled  vehicles, as provided in paragraph (6) 
of subsection (c) of this
Section, is
exempt from length 
limitations.

    All other combinations not listed in this subsection (b) 
may not exceed 60
feet overall dimension.

    (c) Except as provided in subsections (c-1) and (c-2), 
combinations of vehicles may not exceed a total of 2 vehicles 
except
the
following:


        (1) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one trailer.


        (2) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one converter 
    dolly or one semitrailer.


        (3) A truck tractor semitrailer may draw one vehicle 
    that is defined
in Chapter 1 as special mobile equipment, 
    provided the overall dimension does
not
exceed 60 feet.


        (4) A truck in transit may draw 3 trucks in transit 
    coupled
together by the triple saddlemount method.


        (5) Recreational vehicles consisting of 3 vehicles, 
    provided
the following:


            (A) The total overall dimension does not exceed 60

        feet.


            (B) The towing vehicle is a properly registered

        vehicle capable of towing another vehicle using a 
        fifth-wheel type assembly.


            (C) The second vehicle in the combination of 
        vehicles is
a recreational vehicle that is towed by a

        fifth-wheel assembly.  This vehicle must be
properly 
        registered and must be equipped with
brakes, 
        regardless of weight.


            (D) The third vehicle must be the
lightest of the 3 
        vehicles and be a trailer or
semitrailer designed or 
        used for
transporting a boat, all-terrain vehicle,

        personal watercraft, or motorcycle.


            (E) The towed vehicles may be only for the use
of 
        the operator of the towing vehicle.


            (F) All vehicles must be properly equipped with

        operating brakes and safety equipment required by this 
        Code, except the
additional
brake requirement in 
        subdivision (C) of this subparagraph (5).


        (6) A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle 
    or combination
of
disabled vehicles, provided the towing 
    vehicle:


            (A) Is specifically designed as a tow truck having 
        a gross vehicle
weight rating of
at least 18,000 pounds 
        and equipped with air brakes, provided that air brakes

        are
required only if the towing vehicle is towing a 
        vehicle, semitrailer, or
tractor-trailer combination 
        that is equipped with air brakes.  For the purpose
of 
        this
subsection, gross vehicle weight rating, or GVWR, 
        means the value
specified by the manufacturer as the 
        loaded weight of the tow truck.


            (B) Is equipped with flashing, rotating, or 
        oscillating amber lights,
visible for at
least 500 feet 
        in all directions.


            (C) Is capable of utilizing the lighting and 
        braking systems of the
disabled
vehicle or combination 
        of vehicles.


            (D) Does not engage a tow exceeding 50 highway 
        miles from the initial
point of
wreck or disablement to 
        a place of repair. Any additional movement of the

        vehicles may occur only upon issuance of authorization 
        for that movement under
the provisions of Sections 
        15-301 through 15-319 of this Code.

        The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe 
    additional
requirements
regarding length limitations for a 
    tow truck towing another vehicle.

        For purposes of this Section, a tow-dolly that merely 
    serves as
substitute
wheels for another legally licensed 
    vehicle is considered part of the
licensed
vehicle and not 
    a separate vehicle.

        (7) Commercial vehicles consisting of 3 vehicles, 
    provided the following:
            (A) The total overall dimension does not exceed 65 
        feet.
            (B) The towing vehicle is a properly registered 
        vehicle capable of towing another vehicle using a 
        fifth-wheel type assembly or a goose-neck hitch ball.
            (C) The third vehicle must be the lightest of the 3 
        vehicles and be a trailer or semitrailer.
            (D) All vehicles must be properly equipped with 
        operating brakes and safety equipment required by this 
        Code.

            (E) The combination of vehicles must be operated by 
        a person who holds a commercial driver's license (CDL).

            (F) The combination of vehicles must be en route to 
        a location where new or used trailers are sold by an 
        Illinois or out-of-state licensed new or used trailer 
        dealer.

    (c-1) A combination of 3 vehicles is allowed access to any 
State designated highway if:
        (1) the length of neither towed vehicle exceeds 28.5 
    feet;
        (2) the overall wheel base of the combination of 
    vehicles does not exceed 62 feet; and

        (3) the combination of vehicles is en route to a 
    location where new or used trailers are sold by an Illinois 
    or out-of-state licensed new or used trailer dealer.

    (c-2) A combination of 3 vehicles is allowed access from 
any State designated highway onto any county, township, or 
municipal highway for a distance of 5 highway miles for the 
purpose of delivery or collection of one or both of the towed 
vehicles if:
        (1) the length of neither towed vehicle exceeds 28.5 
    feet;
        (2) the combination of vehicles does not exceed 40,000 
    pounds in gross weight and 8 feet 6 inches in width;
        (3) there is no sign prohibiting that access;
        (4) the route is not being used as a thoroughfare 
    between State designated highways; and

        (5) the combination of vehicles is en route to a 
    location where new or used trailers are sold by an Illinois 
    or out-of-state licensed new or used trailer dealer.

    (d) On Class I highways there are no overall length 
limitations on motor
vehicles
operating in combinations 
provided:


        (1) The length of a semitrailer, unladen or with load,

    in combination with a truck tractor may not exceed 53 feet.


        (2) The distance between the kingpin and the center of

    the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in 
    combination
with a truck tractor, may not exceed 45 feet 6 
    inches. The limit contained in this paragraph (2) shall not 
    apply to trailers or semi-trailers used for the transport 
    of livestock as defined by Section 18b-101.


        (3) The length of a semitrailer or trailer, unladen or

    with load, operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer

    or truck tractor semitrailer-semitrailer combination, may 
    not exceed 28 feet 6 inches.


        (4) Maxi-cube combinations, as defined in Chapter 1,

    may not exceed 65 feet overall dimension.


        (5) Combinations of vehicles specifically designed to

    transport motor vehicles or boats may not exceed 65 feet

    overall dimension.  The length limitation is inclusive of

    front and rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of the

    transported vehicles, as provided in paragraph (i) of this

    Section.


        (6) Stinger steered semitrailer vehicles as defined in

    Chapter 1, specifically designed to transport motor 
    vehicles or
boats, may not exceed 75 feet overall 
    dimension. The length
limitation is inclusive of front and 
    rear bumpers but
exclusive of the overhang of the 
    transported vehicles, as
provided in paragraph (i) of this 
    Section.


        (7) A truck in transit transporting 3 trucks coupled

    together by the triple saddlemount method may not
exceed 75 
    feet overall dimension.

    Vehicles operating during daylight hours when transporting 
poles, pipes,
machinery, or other objects of a structural 
nature that cannot readily be
dismembered are exempt from 
length limitations, provided that no object may
exceed 80 feet 
in length and the overall dimension of the vehicle including 
the
load
may not exceed 100 feet.  This exemption does not apply 
to operation on a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.  Legal 
holidays referred to in this Section
are
the days on which the 
following traditional holidays are celebrated: New
Year's
Day; 
Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; 
and
Christmas Day.

    Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while en 
route to make
emergency repairs to public service facilities or 
properties are exempt from
length
limitations, provided that 
during night operations every vehicle and its load
must
be 
equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both 
sides and
marker lamps on the extreme ends of any projecting 
load to clearly mark the
dimensions of the load.

    A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle or 
combination of
disabled vehicles, as provided in paragraph (6) 
of subsection (c) of this
Section, is
exempt from length 
limitations.

    The length limitations described in this paragraph (d) 
shall be exclusive
of safety and energy conservation devices,

such as bumpers, refrigeration
units or air compressors and 
other devices, that the Department may interpret
as necessary 
for safe and efficient
operation; except that no device 
excluded under this paragraph shall have by
its design or use 
the capability to carry cargo.

    Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act 
relating to
procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the 
designation of highways under
this paragraph (d).

    (e) On Class II highways there are no overall length 
limitations on motor
vehicles
operating in combinations, 
provided:


        (1) The length of a semitrailer, unladen or with load,

    in combination with a truck tractor, may not exceed 53 feet

    overall dimension.


        (2) The distance between the kingpin and the center of

    the rear axle of a semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in 
    combination
with a truck tractor, may not exceed 45 feet 6 
    inches. The limit contained in this paragraph (2) shall not 
    apply to trailers or semi-trailers used for the transport 
    of livestock as defined by Section 18b-101.


        (3) A truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer or truck 
    tractor semitrailer-semitrailer combination may
not exceed 
    65 feet in dimension from front axle to rear
axle.


        (4) The length of a semitrailer or trailer, unladen or

    with load, operated in a truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer 
    or truck tractor semitrailer-semitrailer
combination, may 
    not exceed 28 feet 6 inches.


        (5) Maxi-cube combinations, as defined in Chapter 1,

    may not exceed 65 feet overall dimension.


        (6) A combination of vehicles, specifically designed 
    to
transport motor vehicles or boats, may not exceed 65 
    feet
overall dimension.  The length limitation is inclusive 
    of
front and rear bumpers but exclusive of the overhang of 
    the
transported vehicles, as provided in paragraph (i) of 
    this
Section.


        (7) Stinger steered semitrailer vehicles, as defined 
    in
Chapter 1, specifically designed to transport motor 
    vehicles or
boats, may not exceed 75 feet overall 
    dimension. The length
limitation is inclusive of front and 
    rear bumpers but
exclusive of the overhang of the 
    transported vehicles, as
provided in paragraph (i) of this 
    Section.


        (8) A truck in transit transporting 3 trucks coupled 
    together by the
triple
saddlemount method may not exceed 75 
    feet overall dimension.

    Vehicles operating during daylight hours when transporting 
poles, pipes,
machinery, or other objects of a structural 
nature that cannot readily be
dismembered are exempt from 
length limitations, provided that no object may
exceed 80 feet 
in length and the overall dimension of the vehicle including 
the
load
may not exceed 100 feet.  This exemption does not apply 
to operation on a
Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.  Legal 
holidays referred to in this Section
are
the days on which the 
following traditional holidays are celebrated: New Year's
Day; 
Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Thanksgiving Day; 
and
Christmas Day.

    Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility while en 
route to make
emergency repairs to public service facilities or 
properties are exempt from
length
limitations, provided that 
during night operations every vehicle and its load
must
be 
equipped with a sufficient number of clearance lamps on both 
sides and
marker lamps on the  extreme ends of any projecting 
load to clearly mark the
dimensions of the load.

    A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle or 
combination of
disabled vehicles, as provided in paragraph (6) 
of subsection (c) of this
Section, is
exempt from length 
limitations.

    Local authorities, with respect to
streets and highways 
under their jurisdiction, may also by ordinance or
resolution 
allow length limitations of this subsection (e).

    The length limitations described in this paragraph (e) 
shall be exclusive
of safety and energy conservation devices, 
such as bumpers, refrigeration units
or air compressors and 
other devices, that the Department may interpret as
necessary 
for safe and efficient operation; except that no device 
excluded
under this paragraph shall have by its design or use 
the capability to carry
cargo.














    Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act 
relating to
procedures for rulemaking shall not apply to the 
designation of highways under
this paragraph (e).

    (e-1) Combinations of vehicles
not exceeding 65 feet 
overall length are
allowed access
as follows:
        (1) From any State designated highway onto any county, 
    township, or
municipal highway for a distance of 5 highway 
    miles for the purpose of
loading and unloading, provided:
            (A) The vehicle does not exceed 80,000 pounds in 
        gross weight
and 8 feet 6 inches in width.
            (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
            (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare 
        between State
 designated highways.
        (2) From any State designated highway onto any county 
    or township
highway for a distance of 5 highway miles or 
    onto any municipal highway for
a distance of one highway 
    mile for the purpose of food, fuel, repairs, and rest,

    provided:
            (A) The vehicle does not exceed 80,000 pounds in 
        gross weight
and 8 feet 6 inches in width.
            (B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
            (C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare 
        between State
designated highways.
    (e-2) Except as provided in subsection (e-3), combinations 
of vehicles over
65
feet in length, with no overall length

limitation except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of 
this Section, are
allowed access as follows:
        (1) From a Class I highway onto any street or highway 
    for a distance of
one highway mile for the purpose of 
    loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs,
and rest, 
    provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
        (2) From a Class I or Class II highway onto any State 
    highway or any
locally designated highway for a distance of 
    5 highway miles for the purpose
of loading, unloading, 
    food, fuel, repairs, and rest.
    (e-3) Combinations of vehicles over 65 feet in length 
operated by household
goods carriers, with no overall length 
limitations except as provided in
subsections (d) and (e) of 
this Section, have unlimited access to points of
loading
and 
unloading. 
    (f) On Class III and other non-designated State highways, 
the length
limitations
for vehicles in combination are as 
follows:


        (1) Truck tractor-semitrailer combinations, must

    comply with either a maximum 55 feet overall wheel base or

    a maximum 65 feet extreme overall dimension.


        (2) Semitrailers, unladen or with load, may not exceed

    53 feet overall dimension.


        (3) No truck tractor-semitrailer-trailer or truck 
    tractor semitrailer-semitrailer combination may
exceed 60 
    feet extreme overall dimension.


        (4) The distance between the kingpin and the center 
    axle of a
semitrailer longer than 48 feet, in combination 
    with a truck tractor, may
not exceed 42 feet 6 inches. The 
    limit contained in this paragraph (4) shall not apply to 
    trailers or semi-trailers used for the transport of 
    livestock as defined by Section 18b-101.

    (g) Length limitations in the preceding subsections of this 
Section 15-107
do not apply to the following:


        (1) Vehicles operated in the daytime, except on 
    Saturdays, Sundays, or
legal holidays, when transporting 
    poles, pipe, machinery, or other objects of a
structural 
    nature that cannot readily be dismembered, provided the 
    overall
length of vehicle and load may not exceed 100 feet 
    and no object exceeding 80
feet in length may be 
    transported unless a permit has been obtained as
authorized 
    in Section 15-301.


        (2) Vehicles and loads operated by a public utility 
    while en route to make
emergency repairs to public service 
    facilities or properties, but during
night operation every 
    vehicle and its load must be equipped with
a
sufficient 
    number of clearance lamps on both sides and marker lamps 
    upon the
extreme ends of any projecting load to clearly 
    mark the dimensions of the load.


        (3) A tow truck in combination with a disabled vehicle 
    or combination of
disabled vehicles, provided the towing 
    vehicle meets the following conditions:


            (A) It is specifically designed as a tow truck 
        having a gross vehicle
weight
rating of at least 18,000 
        pounds and equipped with air brakes, provided that
air

        brakes are required only if the towing vehicle is 
        towing a vehicle,
semitrailer, or tractor-trailer 
        combination that is equipped with air brakes.


            (B) It is equipped with flashing, rotating, or 
        oscillating amber lights,
visible for at least 500 feet 
        in all directions.


            (C) It is capable of utilizing the lighting and 
        braking systems of the
disabled vehicle or combination 
        of vehicles.


            (D) It does not engage in a tow exceeding 50 miles 
        from the initial
point
of wreck or disablement.

    The Department may by rule or regulation prescribe 
additional requirements
regarding length limitations for a tow 
truck towing another vehicle.
The towing vehicle, however, may 
tow any disabled vehicle from the initial
point of wreck or 
disablement to a point where repairs are actually to occur.

This movement shall be valid only on State routes.
The tower 
must abide by posted bridge weight limits.

    For the purpose of this subsection, gross vehicle weight 
rating, or GVWR,
shall mean the value specified by the 
manufacturer as the loaded weight of
the tow truck. Legal 
holidays referred to in this Section shall be
specified as the 
day on which the following traditional holidays are
celebrated:

    New Year's Day;

    Memorial Day;

    Independence Day;

    Labor Day;

    Thanksgiving Day; and

    Christmas Day.

    (h) The load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the load 
upon the
front vehicle of a combination of vehicles, shall not 
extend more than 3
feet beyond the front wheels of the vehicle 
or the front bumper of the
vehicle if it is equipped with a 
front bumper.
The provisions of this subsection (h) shall not 
apply to any vehicle or
combination of vehicles specifically 
designed for the collection and
transportation of waste, 
garbage, or recyclable materials during the vehicle's

operation in the course of collecting
garbage, waste, or

recyclable materials if the vehicle is traveling at a speed not 
in
excess of
15 miles per hour during the vehicle's operation 
and in the course of
collecting garbage, waste, or recyclable 
materials.  However, in no instance
shall the load extend more 
than 7 feet beyond the front wheels of the vehicle
or the front 
bumper of the vehicle if it is equipped with a front bumper.

    (i) The load upon the front vehicle of a combination of 
vehicles
specifically designed to transport motor vehicles 
shall not extend more
than 3 feet beyond the foremost part of 
the transporting vehicle and the
load upon the rear 
transporting vehicle shall not extend more than 4 feet
beyond 
the rear of the bed or body of the vehicle.  This paragraph 
shall
only be applicable upon highways designated in paragraphs 
(d) and (e) of
this Section.

    (j) Articulated vehicles comprised of 2 sections, neither 
of which
exceeds a length of 42 feet, designed for the carrying 
of more than 10
persons, may be up to 60 feet in length, not 
including energy absorbing
bumpers, provided that the vehicles 
are:


        1. operated by or for any public body or motor carrier 
    authorized by law
to provide public transportation 
    services; or


        2. operated in local public transportation service by 
    any other person
and the municipality in which the service 
    is to be provided approved the
operation of the vehicle.

    (j-1) (Blank).

    (k) Any person who is convicted of violating this Section 
is subject
to the penalty as provided in paragraph (b) of 
Section 15-113.

    (l) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 96-34, eff. 1-1-10; 96-37, eff. 7-13-09; 96-1352, 
eff. 7-28-10; 97-200, eff. 7-27-11.)



Effective Date:  1/1/2013