Chapter 10-72 VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, WEIGHT AND SIZE LIMITATIONS

A. No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon any public way in this city when the gross weight on the mad surface through any axle thereof exceeds eighteen thousand (18,000) pounds, except a two-axle motor vehicle which shall not exceed twenty-four thousand (24,000) pounds on the rear axle.

B. No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other than pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon any public way in this city when the gross weight on the mad surface through any wheel thereof exceeds eight hundred (800) pounds per inch width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road surface through any axle thereof exceeds sixteen thousand (16,000) pounds.

C. An axle load shall be defined as the total load transmitted to the road by all wheels whose centers may be included between two parallel transverse vertical planes forty (40) inches or less apart extending across the full width of the vehicle.

D. Any two consecutive axles whose centers are more than forty (40) inches and not more than seventy-two (72) inches apart, measured to the nearest inch, shall be defined as tandem axles, and the gross weight transmitted to the road surface through axles so spaced shall not exceed sixteen thousand (16,000) pounds per axle.

E. The gross weight of vehicles and combinations of vehicles, including the weight of the vehicle or combination and its maximum load, operated upon any public way in this city shall be subject to the foregoing limitations and further shall not exceed the following:


Two-axle vehicle	36,000
Three or more axle motor vehicle	41,000
Three-axle truck tractor semi-trailer combination	45,000
Four or more axle truck tractor semi-trailer combination	59,000
Four-axle truck and trailer combination	63,000
Five or more truck and trailer combination	72,000
Five or more axle truck tractor semi-trailer combination when transporting loads that cannot reasonably be dismantled or disassembled	72,000
Five or more axle truck tractor semi-trailer and trailer combination	72,000
Trailers	36,000
Vehicles operating on caterpiller type trucks	40,000

(Ord. 1668 § 17.1, 1964)

10-72-020 Exceptions to weight and size limitations.

Whenever official signs are erected prohibiting the use of any street or a part of a street by trucks or other commercial vehicles or imposing weight and/or size limitations upon such vehicles using said street or a part of a street as authorized herein, no person shall drive a truck or other commercial vehicle upon any such street or a part of a street in violation of any such signs except for the purpose of delivering or picking up materials or merchandise and then only by entering such street at the intersection nearest the destination of the vehicle and proceeding thereon no farther than the nearest intersection thereafter. The word “load” when used on official signs erected by authority of this section, shall be defined and understood to mean the weight transmitted to the road by the wheels of a vehicle, being the weight of such vehicle plus the weight of its contents or load if any. (Ord. 1668 § 17.2, 1964)

10-72-030 Width of vehicles.

The maximum width of any vehicle and its load shall not exceed eight feet except that vehicles designed and used for the carrying of more than seven persons may be eight feet eight inches in width; provided, that minors required may project up to six inches beyond each side of a vehicle and such projection shall not be deemed a violation of the above width restrictions. (Ord. 1668 § 17.3, 1964)

10-72-040 Height of vehicles.

The height of a vehicle from the underside of the tire to top of the vehicle, inclusive of load, shall not exceed thirteen (13) feet, six inches. (Ord. 1668 § 17.4, 1964)

10-72-050 Length of vehicles.

A. No vehicle, unladen or with load, shall exceed a length of forty-two (42) feet extreme over-all dimension.

B. No combination of truck tractor and semitrailer, unladen or with a load, shall exceed a length of fifty (50) feet extreme over-all dimension. A truck tractor semi-trailer may draw one trailer and truck in-transit may draw two trucks in-transit coupled together by the dual saddlemount method, and no such combination, unladen or with load, shall exceed a length of fifty (50) feet extreme over-all dimension.

C. No other combination of vehicles coupled together shall consist of more than two vehicles and no such combination of vehicles unladen or with load, shall exceed a length of fifty (50) feet extreme over-all dimension.

D. Length limitations shall not apply to vehicles operated in the day time when transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of a structural nature which cannot readily be dismembered, nor to such vehicle transporting such objections operated at night time by a public utility when required for emergency repair of public service facilities or properties when operated under special permit as provided in this chapter, but in respect to such night transportation every such vehicle and the load thereon shall 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 such load.

E. The load upon any vehicle operated alone, or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles, shall not extend more than three feet beyond the front wheels of such vehicle or the front bumper of such vehicle if it is equipped with such a bumper. (Ord. 1668 § 17.5, 1964)

10-72-060 Permit for excess size and weight.

A. When in his judgment an emergency exists, the police chief with respect to streets and highways under the jurisdiction of the city may in his discretion upon application in writing and good cause being show therefor, issue a special permit in writing authorizing the applicant to operate or move a vehicle or combination of vehicles of a size or weight of vehicle or load exceeding the maximum specified in the laws of the state or otherwise not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter upon any street or highway under the jurisdiction of the city.

B. The application for such permit shall specifically describe the vehicle or vehicles and load to be operated or moved and the particular streets or highways for which permit to operate is requested, and whether such permit is requested for a single trip or for continuous operation.

C. The police chief is authorized to issue or withhold such permit at his discretion; or, if such permit is issued, to limit the number of trips, or to establish seasonal or other time limitations within which the vehicles described may be operated on the streets or highways indicated, or otherwise to limit or prescribe conditions of operation of such vehicle or vehicles, when necessary to assure against undue damage to the road foundations, surfaces, or structures, and may require such undertaking or other security as may be deemed necessary to compensate for any injury to any roadway or road structure.

D. Whenever the application for such a permit is for the transportation of a single article which cannot be divided and which exceeds twenty-four thousand (24,000) pounds total load on any axle or exceeds sixty (60) feet total length or one hundred two (102) inches maximum width, the police chief may issue a permit only for a single trip for the load so to be transported providing that the person making such application shall have paid to the city collector a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for such permit and shall have furnished a bond in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) to the city, conditioned so as to save the city harmless from any claim, loss or damage that may result from the granting of such permit or that may arise from or on account of any work done thereunder, and further conditioned that the grantee shall restore at his own cost, to a condition satisfactory to the police chief, any pavement, subway, tunnel, sewer, pipe, conduit, or other public utility that may be injured by reason of the transportation of such article under such permit.

E. Every permit issued under the provisions of this section shall be carried in the vehicle or combination of vehicles to which it refers and shall be open to inspection by any police officer, and no person shall violate any of the terms or conditions of such special permit. (Ord. 3243, 2010; Ord. 1668 § 17.6, 1964)

10-72-070 Brakes.

A. Brake Equipment Required.

1. Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle, including two separate means of applying the brake, each of which means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least two wheels. If these two separate means of applying the brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes on at least two wheels.

2. Every motorcycle, and bicycle with motor attached, when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with at least one brake, which may be operated by hand or foot.

3. Every trailer or semi-trailer of a gross weight of three thousand (3,000) pounds or more when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and to hold such vehicle and so designed as to be applied by the driver of the towing motor vehicle from its cab, and said brakes shall be so designed and connected that in case of an accidental breakaway of the towed vehicle the brakes shall be automatically applied.

B. Performance Ability of Brakes.

1. The service brakes upon any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles operating on a level surface shall be adequate to stop such vehicle or vehicles when traveling twenty (20) miles per hour within a distance of thirty (30) feet when upon dry asphalt or concrete pavement surface free from loose material.

2. Under the above condition the hand brake shall be adequate to stop such vehicle or vehicles within a distance of fifty-five (55) feet and said hand brake shall be adequate to hold such vehicle or vehicles stationary on any grade upon which operated.

3. Under the above conditions the service brakes upon a motor vehicle equipped with two-wheel brakes only and when permitted hereunder, shall be adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of forty (40) feet and the hand brake adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of fifty-five (55) feet.

4. All braking distances specified in this section shall apply to all vehicles mentioned, whether such vehicles are not loaded or are loaded to the maximum capacity permitted in this chapter.

5. All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate as equally as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle. (Ord. 1668 § 18.1, 1964)

10-72-080 Windshields and windows.

A. No person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway with any sign, poster, card, sticker, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side wings, side or rear windows of the vehicle, except that such signs, posters, cards, stickers or other materials may be placed on said windshield within a seven inch square in the lower corner farthest removed from the driver’s position or upon the side windows of the vehicle to the rear of the driver and so placed that said materials will not obstruct the driver’s clear view of approaching traffic.

B. No person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a roadway with any object so placed in or upon the vehicle as to obstruct the driver’s clear view through the windshield, except required or permitted equipment of the vehicle. (Ord. 1668 § 18.2, 1964)

10-72-090 Windshield wipers.

Every motor vehicle, except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, operating on a roadway and equipped with a windshield shall also be equipped with a self-operating windshield wiper installed thereon which shall be maintained in good operating condition. Any windshield wiper as required herein to be installed on a vehicle shall provide clear vision through the windshield for the driver and shall be operated under conditions of fog, snow or rain. This section shall not apply to snow removal equipment equipped with adequate manually operated windshield wipers. (Ord. 1668 § 18.3, 1964)

10-72-100 Horns, sirens, whistles and bells.

A. Every motor vehicle when operated upon any public way shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than two hundred (200) feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle.

B. No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle or bell, except that this shall not apply to an authorized emergency vehicle as otherwise permitted in this title. (Ord. 1668 § 18.4, 1964)

10-72-110 Headlights, rear lights and license light.

When upon any roadway during the period from sunset to sunrise:

A. Every motorcycle shall carry one lighted lamp and every motor vehicle two lighted lamps showing white lights, or lights of a yellow or amber tint, visible at least five hundred (500) feet in the direction toward which each motorcycle or motor vehicle is proceeding;

B. Each motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer shall also exhibit at least one lighted lamp which shall be so situated as to throw a red light visible for at least five hundred (500) feet in the reverse direction;

C. Parking lights shall not be exhibited on a vehicle in operation on a street or highway in this city unless the driving lights are also lighted;

D. The number plate at the back of every motorcycle and every motor vehicle shall be so lighted that the numbers of said plates shall be plainly legible and intelligible at a distance of fifty (50) feet;

E. Every trailer having a gross weight of three thousand (3,000) pounds or less including the weight of the trailer and maximum load shall be equipped with two lighted lamps, one on each side of the rear of such trailer which shall be so situated as to throw a red light visible for at least five hundred (500) feet in the reverse direction. (Ord. 1668 § 18.5, 1964)

10-72-120 Lamps—Auxiliary and spot lamps.

A. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed one spot lamp and every lighted spot lamp shall be so aimed and used upon approaching another vehicle that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam will be directed to the left of the prolongation of the extreme left side of the vehicle nor more than one hundred (100) feet ahead of the vehicle.

B. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed three auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than twelve (12) inches nor more than forty-two (42) inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands. (Ord. 1668 § 18.6, 1964)

10-72-130 Permissible lighting equipment.

A. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit an amber or white light without glare.

B. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running board courtesy lamp on each side thereof which shall emit a white or amber light without glare.

C. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with a backup lamp either separately or in combination with another lamp; except that no such backup lamp shall be continuously lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.

D. Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with head lamps as herein required is also equipped with auxiliary lamps or a spot lamp or any other lamp on the front thereof projecting a beam of an intensity greater than three hundred (300) candle-power, not more than a total of four of any such lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when upon a highway. (Ord. 1668 § 18.7, 1964)

10-72-140 Front red and flashing lights prohibited.

A. No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any roadway with any lamp or device thereon displaying a red light visible from directly in front thereof.

B. Flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles, except as a means for indicating a right or left turn or stop.

C. The provisions of subsections A and B of this section shall apply to authorized emergency vehicles. (Ord. 1668 § 18.8, 1964)

10-72-150 Lighted lamps on vehicles other than motor powered.

All nonmotor-driven vehicles including animal- drawn vehicles while being operated on the roadway between the period of sunset to sunrise shall at all times be equipped with at least one lighted lamp or lantern exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle and with a lamp or lantern exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear. (Ord. 1668 § 18.9, 1964)

10-72-160 Mirrors.

Motor vehicles of either division which are so constructed or loaded as to obstruct the driver’s view to the rear thereof from the driver’s position shall be equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the roadway for a distance of at least two hundred (200) feet to the rear of such vehicle. (Ord. 1668 § 18.10, 1964)

10-72-170 Rear reflectors on trailers.

Every trailer having a gross weight of three thousand (3,000) pounds or less including the weight of the trailer and maximum load, towed either by a motor vehicle of the first division or a motor vehicle of the second division shall be equipped with two red reflectors, which will be visible when hit by headlight beams three hundred (300) feet away at night, on the rear of the body of such trailer, not more than twelve (12) inches from the lower left-hand and right-hand corners. (Ord. 1668 § 18.11, 1964)

10-72-180 Mufflers, by-passes, cutouts, fumes and noises.

A. Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke, and, no person shall use a muffler cutout, by-pass, or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a public way.

B. The engine and power mechanism of every motor vehicle shall be so equipped and adjusted as to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke. (Ord. 1668 § 18.12, 1964)

10-72-190 Display of state registration plate.

A. Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, semi-trailer or truck-tractor shall be attached thereto, one in the front and one in the rear.

B. The registration plate issued for a motorcycle, trailer or semi-trailer shall be attached to the rear thereof.

C. The registration plate issued for a truck-tractor shall be attached to the front thereof.

D. Every registration plate shall at all times be securely fastened in a horizontal position to the vehicle for which it is issued so as to prevent the plate from swinging and at a height of not less than twelve (12) inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of such plate, in a place and position to be clearly visible and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible. (Ord. 1668 § 18.13, 1964)

10-72-200 Display of city vehicle tax sticker.

The city vehicle tax stickers shall be placed and positioned to be clearly visible and maintained in a clearly legible condition and shall be placed on the front windshield in the lower left-hand corner of the driver’s position approximately one inch from the left and lower edge of said windshield. (Ord. 2283, 1982: Ord. 1668 § 18.14, 1964)

10-72-210 Studs on tires.

A. No metal tired vehicle shall be moved on any public way having on the periphery of any wheel a block stud, flange, cleat, or spike or any other protuberance of any metal other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except

B. It shall be permissible to use tire chains of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, mud or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid. (Ord. 1668 § 18.15, 1964)

10-72-220 Bumpers and grille.

Every motor vehicle, when operated upon a public way, shall be equipped with a bumper in both the front and rear of said vehicle and shall also be equipped with a grille in front of said vehicle or similar equipment so as to afford protection to persons and property from any sharp metal protrusions of the body of the motor vehicle. (Ord. 1668 § 18.16, 1964)

10-72-230 Identification on vehicles.

No second division vehicle shall be operated upon public ways unless there is painted or otherwise firmly affixed to such vehicle on both sides thereof, in a color or colors vividly contrasting to the color of the vehicle the name and address of the owner thereof and the maximum empty weight of such vehicle. (Ord. 1668 § 18.17, 1964)

10-72-240 Projecting loads.

A. No passenger vehicle shall be operated on any roadway with any loaded carrier thereon extending beyond the line of the fenders on the left side of such vehicle nor extending more than six inches beyond the line of the fenders on the right side thereof.

B. No commercial vehicle shall be operated on any roadway with any load extending to the rear four feet or more beyond the bed or body of such vehicle unless there shall be displayed at the extreme rear end of the load, (1) during the periods when lighted lamps are required in this title, a red light or lantern plainly visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the rear and sides. The red light or lantern required under this section shall be in addition to the red light required upon every vehicle; and (2) during all other times a red flag or cloth not less than sixteen (16) inches square. This flag or cloth shall be visible to the driver of any vehicle approaching from the rear or sides. (Ord. 1668 § 18.18, 1964)

10-72-250 Trailers and towed vehicles.

No trailer shall be operated on any roadways while attached to a self-propelled motor vehicle or to a leading trailer or semi-trailer, unless in addition to the regular coupling device it shall have suitable and adequate safety chains or devices attached to the corners of the trailer frame of sufficient strength to pull the trailer and its maximum load; provided, that any trailer having a gross weight of three thousand (3,000) pounds or less including the weight of the trailer and maximum load may be coupled to the towing vehicle by means of clamp-on hitches which hitches shall be designed and installed to effectively transfer stresses to the chassis of the towing vehicle. Such clamps and coupling bar shall be of sufficient strength to hold and control such trailer when fully loaded. Such trailers shall be equipped with two safety chains or cables which are permanently affixed to the tongue of the trailer. When such trailer is attached to the towing vehicle, the free end of each chain or cable shall be attached to the towing vehicle. (Ord. 1668 § 18.19, 1964)

10-72-260 Provisions of Act 5, Illinois Vehicle Code, refer to vehicles upon the highways—Exceptions.

The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-201, as amended, are adopted as follows:

The provisions of Chapter 5/11, Illinois Vehicle Code, relating to the operation of vehicles refer exclusively to the operation of vehicles upon highways except:

A. Where a different place is specifically referred to in a given section;

B. The provisions of Articles IV and V of Chapter 5/11, Illinois Vehicle Code, shall apply upon highways and elsewhere throughout the state. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)

10-72-270 Powers of city.

The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-208, as amended, are adopted as follows:

A. The provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code shall not be deemed to prevent the city with respect to streets and highways under its jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the police power from:

1. Regulating the standing or parking of vehicles, except as limited by Section 5/11-1306 of the Illinois Vehicle Code;

2. Regulating traffic by means of police officers or traffic-control signals;

3. Regulating or prohibiting processions or assemblages on the highways;

4. Designating particular highways as one-way highways and requiring that all vehicles thereon be moved in one specific direction;

5. Regulating the speed of vehicles in public parks subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10-84-160;

6. Designating any highway as a through highway, as authorized in Section 5/11-302 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, and requiring that all vehicles stop before entering or crossing the same or designating any intersection as a stop intersection or a yield right-of-way intersection and requiring all vehicles to stop or yield the right-of-way at one or more entrances to such intersections;

7. Restricting the use of highways as authorized in Chapter 15 of the Illinois Vehicle Code;

8. Regulating the operating of bicycles and requiring the registration and licensing of same, including the requirement of a registration fee;

9. Regulating or prohibiting the turning of vehicles or specified types of vehicles at intersections;

10. Altering the speed limits as authorized in Section 10-84-160;

11. Prohibiting U-turns;

12. Prohibiting pedestrian crossings at other than designated and marked crosswalks or at intersections;

13. Prohibiting parking during snow removal operations;

14. Imposing fines in accordance with Section 5/11-1301.3 of the Illinois Vehicle Code as penalties for use of any parking place reserved for handicapped persons, as defined by Section 5/1-159.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, or disabled veterans by any person using a motor vehicle not bearing registration plates specified in Section 5/11-1301.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code or a special decal or device as defined in Section 5/11-1301.2 of the Illinois Vehicle Code as evidence that the vehicle is operated by or for a handicapped person or disabled veteran; and

15. Adopting such other traffic regulations as are specifically authorized by the Illinois Vehicle Code.

B. No ordinance or regulation enacted under subsections 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 or 13 of subsection A of this section shall be effective until signs giving reasonable notice of such local traffic regulations are posted.

C. The provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code shall not prevent any municipality having a population of five hundred thousand (500,000) or more inhabitants from prohibiting any person from driving or operating any motor vehicle upon the roadways of such municipality with headlamps on high beam or bright. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)

10-72-280 Chapter 5/11 of the Illinois Vehicle Code not to interfere with rights of owners of real property with reference thereto.

The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-210, as amended, are adopted as follows:

Nothing in Chapter 5/11 of the Illinois Vehicle Code shall be construed to prevent the owner of real property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel by permission of the owner and not as matter of right from prohibiting such use, or from requiring other or different or additional conditions than those specified in Chapter 5/11 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, or otherwise regulating such use as may seem best to such owner. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)

10-72-290 Special equipment.

The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-1404, as amended, are adopted as follows:

The operator of a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle or motorized pedalcycle and every passenger thereon shall be protected by glasses, goggles or a transparent shield. The Department of Transportation shall determine the standards for this equipment. These standards shall establish requirements based upon those set forth in Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission Regulation VESC-8, “Minimum Requirements for Motorcyclists’ Eye Protection.” (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)

10-72-300 Required equipment on motorcycles.

The provisions of Illinois Vehicle Code § 5/11-1405, as amended, are adopted as follows:

Any motorcycle carrying a passenger, other than in a sidecar or enclosed cab, shall be equipped with footrests for such passenger. (Ord. 2910 § 5 (Par. I (part)), 1995)