[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lexington as 4-4-1984 by Ord. No. 1984-3 (Ch. 5, Art. 5, of the 1998 Code); amended 11-25-1985 by Ord. No. 1985-9. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks — See Ch. 130.
Peace and good order — See Ch. 135.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 190.
Trespassing — See Ch. 227.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 240.
For the purposes of this chapter, the words and phrases used herein shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them under the Illinois Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act, 625 ILCS 40/1-1 et seq., as thereafter amended.
It shall be unlawful to operate a snowmobile within the City limits of the City of Lexington, except upon property owned by or upon which the owner has given express permission to operate to the operator of such snowmobile, or upon the portions of the highways designated in a map of the City of Lexington entitled "Snowmobile Route," attached to and made a part of this chapter,[1] which delineates certain highways as permissible for snowmobile traffic within said City limits, or upon any highways which afford the most direct or safest course to the snowmobile route to or from the point where the snowmobile is housed, or to and from the point of entry or exit of the snowmobile to or from the City limits of the City of Lexington.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Snowmobile Route Map is on file in the City offices.
A. 
Headlamp. All snowmobiles in operation shall display at least one lighted headlamp, white in color, visible from at least 500 feet ahead during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions. The headlamp should be lighted whenever the snowmobile is running.
B. 
Taillights. All snowmobiles while in operation shall display at least one red taillight which should show visible at a distance of 500 feet to the rear during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions.
C. 
Brakes. All snowmobiles shall have an operating brake system.
D. 
Mufflers. All snowmobiles shall be equipped with a sound-muffling device installed by the manufacturer, and under no circumstances shall this muffler be removed by the owner or operator.
E. 
Reflective material. Reflective material of a minimum area of 16 square inches shall be mounted on each side of the snowmobile cowling. Identifying numbers may be included in computing the required area of 16 square inches.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
No snowmobile may be driven upon any roadway or route of this community at a speed which is greater than reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions or which endangers the safety of any person or property. Speed must be decreased as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person or vehicle.
B. 
Unless other speed restrictions may be established by the posting of speed limit signs under the authority of the City Council, the maximum speed limits are as follows:
(1) 
On any City street: 20 miles per hour.
(2) 
On any City alley: 15 miles per hour.
C. 
Any person who drives any snowmobile with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.
D. 
No person shall engage in any race on any street or alley within the corporate limits. "Race" means the act of two or more individuals competing either by acceleration or from passing or overtaking another individual in competing for time or position.
E. 
Snowmobiles shall be operated on all designated roadways as close as possible to the righthand side of the roadway.
F. 
The operator shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is prudent with regard to the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and condition of the roadway.
G. 
Signals of intention to turn right or left, when required, must be given during the last 100 feet of travel when the snowmobile is traveling on any highway within the municipality.
H. 
Any snowmobile approaching an intersection shall yield right-of-way to a vehicle approaching on the opposite street which is entering the intersection. The snowmobile operator shall yield at all times and may proceed at such time as a safe interval occurs.
I. 
Snowmobiles shall obey all stop signs. The snowmobile should stop at the point nearest the intersecting street as to afford the operator a clear view of approaching traffic.
J. 
Any operator involved in any accident with another snowmobile or other motor vehicle or pedestrian shall make accident reports in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois State Snowmobile Registration Act, 625 ILCS 40/6-1.
K. 
No person under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs may be in actual physical control of any snowmobile within this municipality.
L. 
No person shall consume any alcoholic liquor while operating a snowmobile, and any liquor transported shall be in its original package with the seal unbroken.
M. 
No person shall operate a snowmobile on any highway of the state, except to cross said state highway at a ninety-degree angle, yielding to all traffic and crossing only when safe to do so.
N. 
Riding along the railroad right-of-way is prohibited.
O. 
Curfew for snowmobiles shall be 11:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 12:00 midnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection P, regarding operators between the ages of 14 and 16, which immediately followed this subsection, was deleted at time of adoption of Code. See now § 178-5.
A. 
No person under 10 years of age may operate a snowmobile, other than machines designed for use by small children primarily as a toy and used only on private property and not on any public-use trail.
B. 
Persons at least 10 years of age and less than 12 years of age may operate a snowmobile only if they are either accompanied on the snowmobile by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by a parent or guardian.
C. 
Persons at least 12 years of age and less than 16 years of age may operate a snowmobile only if they are either accompanied on the snowmobile by a parent or guardian or a person at least 16 years of age designated by a parent or guardian, or such operator is in possession of a certificate issued by the Department of Natural Resources authorizing the holder to operate snowmobiles.
D. 
Any person who operates a snowmobile on a highway as provided in 625 ILCS 40/5-2 shall possess a valid motor vehicle driver's license; or possess a safety certificate as provided for in this section. Any such person less than 16 years of age shall also be under the immediate supervision of a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by the parent or guardian.
[1]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
No person shall, after the effective date of this chapter, operate any snowmobile within the municipality unless such snowmobile has been registered and numbered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and the identifying number is displayed in a location on the snowmobile as shall be directed by the Chief of Police of the City.
A. 
Application; fee. The owner of each snowmobile requiring numbering by this chapter shall file an application for a number with the City Clerk on forms provided by the Clerk. The applications shall be signed by the owner of the snowmobile and shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in Chapter 63, Fees. Upon receipt of the application in approved form, the City Clerk shall enter the same upon the records of his office and issue to the applicant an identification number to be attached to the snowmobile in accordance with this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Display. The owner shall attach the identification number to the snowmobile in a place and manner approved by the Chief of Police.
C. 
Transfer or sale. An owner will have a separate identification number for each snowmobile he/she owns. An identification number may be transferred from one snowmobile owned by one owner to a new snowmobile purchased by the same owner, but an identification number is not transferable between two owned at the same time by one owner. Upon sale or transfer of a snowmobile to a new owner, a new identification number must be applied for.
D. 
Loss or destruction; replacement. Should an identification number become lost, destroyed, or mutilated beyond legibility, the owner of the snowmobile shall make application to the City Clerk for the replacement of the identification number, giving his name, address, and the number of snowmobile and shall at the same time pay to the City Clerk a fee as set forth in Chapter 63, Fees.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
E. 
Effective period. Every identification number awarded under this chapter shall continue in full force and effect until terminated or discontinued in accordance with this chapter or any amending or repealing ordinance.
F. 
Registration list. The City Clerk shall keep a registration list of all identification numbers issued, and the name and address of the owner to whom the identification number was issued.
All records of the City Clerk made or kept under this chapter shall be public records.
A. 
It is the duty of police officers to arrest any person detected in violation of any provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Duly authorized police officers may stop and inspect any snowmobile at any time for the purpose of determining if the provisions of this chapter are being complied with. Upon being hailed by an officer of law enforcement, every snowmobile must stop immediately.
C. 
It is unlawful for any person to resist or obstruct any peace officer in discharging his duties under this chapter.
No portion of this chapter shall preclude the State of Illinois or its officers or agents from enforcing the Illinois Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act under 625 ILCS 40/1-1 through 40/12-1, inclusive.
A. 
Any person violating any of the provisions or failing to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this chapter shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $750. Each such person is guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of this chapter is committed, continued or permitted by any such person, and he/she is punishable accordingly.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
In addition to or in conjunction with the above penalty, the registration and identification number of any snowmobile which is operated in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be revoked and terminated upon the second such violation within the space of one year, said revocation being for a period of one calendar year commencing on the date of such second violation.