Bill Text: IL SB1450 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code to change the maximum width for a motor vehicle or its load on the highways of this State from 8 feet wide to 8 feet, 6 inches wide.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2009-08-10 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 96-0220 [SB1450 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-SB1450-Enrolled.html

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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 15-102 as follows:
(625 ILCS 5/15-102) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-102)
Sec. 15-102. Width of Vehicles.
(a) On Class III and non-designated State and local
highways, the total outside width of any vehicle or load
thereon shall not exceed 8 feet 6 inches.
(b) Except during those times when, due to insufficient
light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and
vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a
distance of 1000 feet, the following vehicles may exceed the 8
feet 6 inch limitation during the period from a half hour
before sunrise to a half hour after sunset:
(1) Loads of hay, straw or other similar farm products
provided that the load is not more than 12 feet wide.
(2) Implements of husbandry being transported on
another vehicle and the transporting vehicle while loaded.
The following requirements apply to the transportation
on another vehicle of an implement of husbandry wider than
8 feet 6 inches on the National System of Interstate and

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Defense Highways or other highways in the system of State
highways:
(A) The driver of a vehicle transporting an
implement of husbandry that exceeds 8 feet 6 inches in
width shall obey all traffic laws and shall check the
roadways prior to making a movement in order to ensure
that adequate clearance is available for the movement.
It is prima facie evidence that the driver of a vehicle
transporting an implement of husbandry has failed to
check the roadway prior to making a movement if the
vehicle is involved in a collision with a bridge,
overpass, fixed structure, or properly placed traffic
control device or if the vehicle blocks traffic due to
its inability to proceed because of a bridge, overpass,
fixed structure, or properly placed traffic control
device.
(B) Flags shall be displayed so as to wave freely
at the extremities of overwidth objects and at the
extreme ends of all protrusions, projections, and
overhangs. All flags shall be clean, bright red flags
with no advertising, wording, emblem, or insignia
inscribed upon them and at least 18 inches square.
(C) "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs are mandatory on the
front and rear of all vehicles with loads over 10 feet
wide. These signs must have 12-inch high black letters
with a 2-inch stroke on a yellow sign that is 7 feet

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wide by 18 inches high.
(D) One civilian escort vehicle is required for a
load that exceeds 14 feet 6 inches in width and 2
civilian escort vehicles are required for a load that
exceeds 16 feet in width on the National System of
Interstate and Defense Highways or other highways in
the system of State highways.
(E) The requirements for a civilian escort vehicle
and driver are as follows:
(1) The civilian escort vehicle shall be a
passenger car or a second division vehicle not
exceeding a gross vehicle weight of 8,000 pounds
that is designed to afford clear and unobstructed
vision to both front and rear.
(2) The escort vehicle driver must be properly
licensed to operate the vehicle.
(3) While in use, the escort vehicle must be
equipped with illuminated rotating, oscillating,
or flashing amber lights or flashing amber strobe
lights mounted on top that are of sufficient
intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal
sunlight.
(4) "OVERSIZE LOAD" signs are mandatory on all
escort vehicles. The sign on an escort vehicle
shall have 8-inch high black letters on a yellow
sign that is 5 feet wide by 12 inches high.

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(5) When only one escort vehicle is required
and it is operating on a two-lane highway, the
escort vehicle shall travel approximately 300 feet
ahead of the load. The rotating, oscillating, or
flashing lights or flashing amber strobe lights
and an "OVERSIZE LOAD" sign shall be displayed on
the escort vehicle and shall be visible from the
front. When only one escort vehicle is required and
it is operating on a multilane divided highway, the
escort vehicle shall travel approximately 300 feet
behind the load and the sign and lights shall be
visible from the rear.
(6) When 2 escort vehicles are required, one
escort shall travel approximately 300 feet ahead
of the load and the second escort shall travel
approximately 300 feet behind the load. The
rotating, oscillating, or flashing lights or
flashing amber strobe lights and an "OVERSIZE
LOAD" sign shall be displayed on the escort
vehicles and shall be visible from the front on the
lead escort and from the rear on the trailing
escort.
(7) When traveling within the corporate limits
of a municipality, the escort vehicle shall
maintain a reasonable and proper distance from the
oversize load, consistent with existing traffic

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conditions.
(8) A separate escort shall be provided for
each load hauled.
(9) The driver of an escort vehicle shall obey
all traffic laws.
(10) The escort vehicle must be in safe
operational condition.
(11) The driver of the escort vehicle must be
in radio contact with the driver of the vehicle
carrying the oversize load.
(F) A transport vehicle while under load of more
than 8 feet 6 inches in width must be equipped with an
illuminated rotating, oscillating, or flashing amber
light or lights or a flashing amber strobe light or
lights mounted on the top of the cab that are of
sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in
normal sunlight. If the load on the transport vehicle
blocks the visibility of the amber lighting from the
rear of the vehicle, the vehicle must also be equipped
with an illuminated rotating, oscillating, or flashing
amber light or lights or a flashing amber strobe light
or lights mounted on the rear of the load that are of
sufficient intensity to be visible at 500 feet in
normal sunlight.
(G) When a flashing amber light is required on the
transport vehicle under load and it is operating on a

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two-lane highway, the transport vehicle shall display
to the rear at least one rotating, oscillating, or
flashing light or a flashing amber strobe light and an
"OVERSIZE LOAD" sign. When a flashing amber light is
required on the transport vehicle under load and it is
operating on a multilane divided highway, the sign and
light shall be visible from the rear.
(H) Maximum speed shall be 45 miles per hour on all
such moves or 5 miles per hour above the posted minimum
speed limit, whichever is greater, but the vehicle
shall not at any time exceed the posted maximum speed
limit.
(3) Portable buildings designed and used for
agricultural and livestock raising operations that are not
more than 14 feet wide and with not more than a 1 foot
overhang along the left side of the hauling vehicle.
However, the buildings shall not be transported more than
10 miles and not on any route that is part of the National
System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
All buildings when being transported shall display at least
2 red cloth flags, not less than 12 inches square, mounted as
high as practicable on the left and right side of the building.
A State Police escort shall be required if it is necessary
for this load to use part of the left lane when crossing any 2
laned State highway bridge.
(c) Vehicles propelled by electric power obtained from

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overhead trolley wires operated wholly within the corporate
limits of a municipality are also exempt from the width
limitation.
(d) Exemptions are also granted to vehicles designed for
the carrying of more than 10 persons under the following
conditions:
(1) (Blank);
(2) (Blank); When operated within any public
transportation service with the approval of local
authorities or an appropriate public body authorized by law
to provide public transportation. Any vehicle so operated
may be 8 feet 6 inches in width; or
(3) (Blank). When a county engineer or superintendent
of highways, after giving due consideration to the mass
transportation needs of the area and to the width and
condition of the road, has determined that the operation of
buses wider than 8 feet will not pose an undue safety
hazard on a particular county or township road segment, he
or she may authorize buses not to exceed 8 feet 6 inches in
width on any highway under that engineer's or
superintendent's jurisdiction.
(d-1) A recreational vehicle, as defined in Section 1-169,
may exceed 8 feet 6 inches in width if:
(1) the excess width is attributable to appurtenances
that extend 6 inches or less beyond either side of the body
of the vehicle; and

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(2) the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling has
marked lanes for vehicular traffic that are at least 11
feet in width.
As used in this subsection (d-1) and in subsection (d-2),
the term appurtenance includes (i) a retracted awning and its
support hardware and (ii) any appendage that is intended to be
an integral part of a recreation vehicle.
(d-2) A recreational vehicle that exceeds 8 feet 6 inches
in width as provided in subsection (d-1) may travel any roadway
of the State if the vehicle is being operated between a roadway
permitted under subsection (d-1) and:
(1) the location where the recreation vehicle is
garaged;
(2) the destination of the recreation vehicle; or
(3) a facility for food, fuel, repair, services, or
rest.
(e) A vehicle and load traveling upon the National System
of Interstate and Defense Highways or any other highway in the
system of State highways that has been designated as a Class I
or Class II highway by the Department, or any street or highway
designated by local authorities, may have a total outside width
of 8 feet 6 inches, provided that certain safety devices that
the Department determines as necessary for the safe and
efficient operation of motor vehicles shall not be included in
the calculation of width.
(e-1) A vehicle and load more than 8 feet wide but not

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exceeding 8 feet 6 inches in width is allowed access according
to the following:
(1) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds in
weight 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 loading and
unloading, provided:
(A) The vehicle and load does not exceed 65 feet
overall length.
(B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
(C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
between State designated highways.
(2) A vehicle and load not exceeding 73,280 pounds in
weight is allowed access 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 and load does not exceed 65 feet
overall length.
(B) There is no sign prohibiting that access.
(C) The route is not being used as a thoroughfare
between State designated highways.
(3) A vehicle and load not exceeding 80,000 pounds in
weight is allowed access from a Class I highway onto any
street or highway for a distance of one highway mile for

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the purpose of loading, unloading, food, fuel, repairs, and
rest, provided there is no sign prohibiting that access.
(4) A vehicle and load not exceeding 80,000 pounds in
weight is allowed access 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.
(5) A trailer or semi-trailer not exceeding 28 feet 6
inches in length, that was originally in combination with a
truck tractor, shall have unlimited access to points of
loading and unloading.
(6) All household goods carriers shall have unlimited
access to points of loading and unloading.
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).
(f) Mirrors required by Section 12-502 of this Code and
other safety devices identified by the Department may project
up to 14 inches beyond each side of a bus and up to 6 inches
beyond each side of any other vehicle, and that projection
shall not be deemed a violation of the width restrictions of
this Section.
(g) Any person who is convicted of violating this Section
is subject to the penalty as provided in paragraph (b) of
Section 15-113.
(Source: P.A. 93-177, eff. 7-11-03; 94-949, eff. 1-1-07.)