[Amended 4-10-2001 by Ord. No. 4-2001]
When signs are erected giving notice thereof, no person shall operate any commercial vehicle exceeding 14,000 pounds' gross weight at any time upon any of the residential streets or parts of streets in the City, except that such vehicles may be operated thereon 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.
[Added 4-10-2018 by Ord. No. 6-2018]
(A) 
No vehicle or combination of vehicles with pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load, upon any street or highway within the City when the total weight on the road surface exceeds the following: 20,000 pounds on a single axle; 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle with no axle within the tandem exceeding 20,000 pounds; 80,000 pounds gross weight for vehicle combinations of five or more axles; or a total weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles in excess of that weight produced by the application of the following formula: W = 500 times the sum of (LN divided by N-1) + 12N + 36, where "W" equals overall total weight on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds, "L" equals the distance measured to the nearest foot between extremes of any group of two or more consecutive axles, and "N" equals the number of axles in the group under consideration.
(1) 
The above formula when expressed in tabular form results in allowable loads as follows:
Distance Measured to the Nearest Foot Between the Extremes of Any Group of 2 or More Consecutive Axles
Maximum Weight in Pounds of Any Group of 2 or More Consecutive Axles
Feet
2 Axles
3 Axles
4 Axles
5 Axles
6 Axles
4
34,000
5
34,000
6
34,000
7
34,000
8
38,000*
42,000
9
39,000
42,500
10
40,000
43,500
11
44,000
12
45,000
50,000
13
45,500
50,500
14
46,500
51,500
15
47,000
52,000
16
48,000
52,500
58,000
17
48,500
53,500
58,500
18
49,500
54,000
59,000
19
50,000
54,500
60,000
20
51,000
55,500
60,500
66,000
21
51,500
56,000
61,000
66,500
22
52,500
56,500
61,500
67,000
23
53,000
57,500
62,500
68,000
24
54,000
58,000
63,000
68,500
25
54,500
58,500
63,500
69,000
26
55,500
59,500
64,000
69,500
27
56,000
60,000
65,000
70,000
28
57,000
60,500
65,500
71,000
29
57,500
61,500
66,000
71,500
30
58,500
62,000
66,500
72,000
31
59,000
62,500
67,500
72,500
32
60,000
63,500
68,000
73,000
33
64,000
68,500
74,000
34
64,500
69,000
74,500
35
65,500
70,000
75,000
36
66,000
70,500
75,500
37
66,500
71,000
76,000
38
67,500
72,000
77,000
39
68,000
72,500
77,500
40
68,500
73,000
78,000
41
69,500
73,500
78,500
42
70,000
74,000
79,000
43
70,500
75,000
80,000
44
71,500
75,500
45
72,000
76,000
46
72,500
76,500
47
73,500
77,500
48
74,000
78,000
49
74,500
78,500
50
75,500
79,000
51
76,000
80,000
52
76,500
53
77,500
54
78,000
55
78,500
56
79,500
57
80,000
*
If the distance between two axles is 96 inches or less, the two axles are tandem axles and the maximum total weight may not exceed 34,000 pounds, notwithstanding the higher limit resulting from the application of the formula.
(2) 
Vehicles not in a combination having more than four axles may not exceed the weight in the table in this Subsection (A) for four axles measured between the extreme axles of the vehicle.
(3) 
Vehicles in a combination having more than six axles may not exceed the weight in the table in this Subsection (A) for six axles measured between the extreme axles of the combination.
(4) 
The following are exceptions to the above formula:
(a) 
Vehicles for which a different limit is established and posted in accordance with § 15-316 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (the "IVC").
(b) 
Vehicles for which the Department of Transportation issue overweight permits under authority of § 15-301 of the IVC. These vehicles are not subject to the bridge formula.
(c) 
Weight limitations shall not apply to vehicles (including loads) operated by a public utility when transporting equipment required for emergency repair of public utility facilities or properties or water wells.
(d) 
A three-axle or four-axle vehicle (including when laden) operated or hired by a municipality within Cook, Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage, or Will county being operated for the purpose of performing emergency sewer repair that would be subject to a weight limitation less than 66,000 pounds under the formula in this Subsection (A) shall have a weight limitation of 66,000 pounds or the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating, whichever is less. This subsection does not apply to vehicles being operated on the national system of interstate and defense highways, or to vehicles being operated on bridges or other elevated structures constituting a part of a highway.
(e) 
Two consecutive sets of tandem axles may carry a total weight of 34,000 pounds each if the overall distance between the first and last axles of the consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more, notwithstanding the lower limit resulting from the application of the above formula.
(f) 
A truck, not in combination and used exclusively for the collection of rendering materials, may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle.
(g) 
A truck not in combination, equipped with a self-compactor or an industrial roll-off hoist and roll-off container, used exclusively for garbage, refuse, or recycling operations, may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 40,000 pounds gross weight on a two-axle vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a three-axle vehicle. This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
(h) 
A three-axle rear discharge truck mixer registered as a special hauling vehicle, used exclusively for the mixing and transportation of concrete in the plastic state, may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a three-axle vehicle. This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
(i) 
Except as provided in Subsection (A)(4)(h), tandem axles on a three-axle truck registered as a special hauling vehicle, manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2024 and first registered in Illinois prior to January 1, 2025, with a distance greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches between any series of two axles, is allowed a combined weight on the series not to exceed 36,000 pounds and neither axle of the series may exceed 20,000 pounds. Any vehicle of this type manufactured after the model year of 2024 or first registered in Illinois after December 31, 2024, may not exceed a combined weight of 34,000 pounds through the series of two axles and neither axle of the series may exceed 20,000 pounds.
(j) 
A three-axle combination sewer cleaning jetting vacuum truck registered as a special hauling vehicle, used exclusively for the transportation of nonhazardous solid waste, manufactured before or in the model year of 2014, first registered in Illinois before January 1, 2015, may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a three-axle vehicle. This vehicle is not subject to the bridge formula.
(k) 
A four-axle truck mixer registered as a special hauling vehicle, used exclusively for the mixing and transportation of concrete in the plastic state, and not operated on a highway that is part of the national system of interstate highways, is allowed the following maximum weights: 20,000 pounds on any single axle; 36,000 pounds on a series of axles greater than 72 inches but not more than 96 inches; and 34,000 pounds on any series of two axles greater than 40 inches but not more than 72 inches. The gross weight of this vehicle may not exceed the weights allowed by the bridge formula for four axles. The bridge formula does not apply to any series of three axles while the vehicle is transporting concrete in the plastic state, but no axle or tandem axle of the series may exceed the maximum weight permitted under this subsection.
(l) 
Combinations of vehicles, registered as special hauling vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured prior to or in the model year of 2024, and registered in Illinois prior to January 1, 2025, having five axles with a distance of 42 feet or less between extreme axles, may not exceed the following maximum weights: 20,000 pounds on a single axle; 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle; and 72,000 pounds gross weight. This combination of vehicles is not subject to the bridge formula. For all those combinations of vehicles that include a semitrailer manufactured after the effective date of P.A. 92-0417, the overall distance between the first and last axles of the two sets of tandems must be 18 feet six inches or more. Any combination of vehicles that has had its cargo container replaced in its entirety after December 31, 2024, may not exceed the weights allowed by the bridge formula.
(m) 
The maximum weight allowed on a vehicle with crawler-type tracks is 40,000 pounds.
(n) 
A combination of vehicles, including a tow truck and a disabled vehicle or disabled combination of vehicles, that exceeds the weight restriction imposed by this section, may be operated on a public highway provided that neither the disabled vehicle nor any vehicle being towed nor the tow truck itself shall exceed the weight limitations permitted under this section. During the towing operation, neither the tow truck nor the vehicle combination shall exceed 24,000 pounds on a single rear axle and 44,000 pounds on a tandem rear axle, provided the towing vehicle:
(i) 
Is specifically designed as a tow truck having a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 18,000 pounds and is 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;
(ii) 
Is equipped with flashing, rotating, or oscillating amber lights, visible for at least 500 feet in all directions;
(iii) 
Is capable of utilizing the lighting and braking systems of the disabled vehicle or combination of vehicles; and
(iv) 
Does not engage in a tow exceeding 20 miles from the initial point of wreck or disablement. Any additional movement of the vehicles may occur only upon issuance of authorization for that movement under the provisions of §§ 15-301 through 15-319 of the IVC. The towing vehicle, however, may tow any disabled vehicle 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.
(o) 
The vehicle weight limitations in this section do not apply to a covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicle. The covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicle license plate must cover the operating empty weight of the covered heavy-duty tow and recovery vehicle only.
(p) 
Upon and during a declaration of an emergency propane supply disaster by the Governor under § 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act,[1] a truck not in combination, equipped with a cargo tank, used exclusively for the transportation of propane or liquefied petroleum gas may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 40,000 pounds gross weight on a two-axle vehicle; 54,000 pounds gross weight on a three-axle vehicle; and a truck when in combination with a trailer equipped with a cargo tank used exclusively for the transportation of propane or liquefied petroleum gas may, when laden, transmit upon the road surface, except when on part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, the following maximum weights: 22,000 pounds on a single axle; 40,000 pounds on a tandem axle; 90,000 pounds gross weight on a five-axle or six-axle vehicle. Vehicles operating under this subsection are not subject to the bridge formula.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 20 ILCS 3305/14 et seq.
(q) 
A vehicle or combination of vehicles that uses natural gas or propane gas as a motor fuel may exceed the above weight limitations by up to 2,000 pounds; the total allowance is calculated by an amount that is equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas or propane gas tank and fueling system carried by the vehicle, and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system. This subsection shall not allow a vehicle to exceed any posted weight limit on a highway or structure.
(r) 
An emergency vehicle or fire apparatus that is a vehicle designed to be used under emergency conditions to transport personnel and equipment, and used to support the suppression of fires and mitigation of other hazardous situations on a Class I highway, may not exceed 86,000 pounds gross weight, or any of the following weight allowances:
(i) 
On a single steering axle, 24,000 pounds;
(ii) 
On a single drive axle, 33,500 pounds;
(iii) 
On a tandem axle, 62,000 pounds; or
(iv) 
On a tandem rear-drive steer axle, 52,000 pounds.
(s) 
A bus, motor coach, or recreational vehicle may carry a total weight of 24,000 pounds on a single axle, but may not exceed other weight provisions of this section.
(5) 
Gross weight limits shall not apply to the combination of the tow truck and vehicles being towed. The tow truck license plate must cover the operating empty weight of the tow truck only. The weight of each vehicle being towed shall be covered by a valid license plate issued to the owner or operator of the vehicle being towed and displayed on that vehicle. If no valid plate issued to the owner or operator of that vehicle is displayed on that vehicle, or the plate displayed on that vehicle does not cover the weight of the vehicle, the weight of the vehicle shall be covered by the third tow truck plate issued to the owner or operator of the tow truck and temporarily affixed to the vehicle being towed. If a roll-back carrier is registered and being used as a tow truck, however, the license plate or plates for the tow truck must cover the gross vehicle weight, including any load carried on the bed of the roll-back carrier.
(6) 
Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a tow truck under instructions of a police officer from legally clearing a disabled vehicle, that may be in violation of weight limitations of this section, from the roadway to the berm or shoulder of the highway. If in the opinion of the police officer that location is unsafe, the officer is authorized to have the disabled vehicle towed to the nearest place of safety.
(7) 
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) 
As used in this section, "recycling haul" or "recycling operation" means the hauling of nonhazardous, nonspecial, nonputrescible materials, such as paper, glass, cans, or plastic, for subsequent use in the secondary materials market.
(C) 
No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires shall be operated, unladen or with load, upon any street or highway within the City in violation of the provisions of any permit issued under the provisions of §§ 15-301 through 15-319 of the IVC.
(D) 
No vehicle or combination of vehicles equipped with other than pneumatic tires may be operated, unladen or with load, upon any street or highway within the City when the gross weight on the road surface through any wheel exceeds 800 pounds per inch width of tire tread or when the gross weight on the road surface through any axle exceeds 16,000 pounds.
[Added 4-10-2018 by Ord. No. 6-2018]
(A) 
A vehicle of the second division moved or operated upon any street or highway within the City shall have had paid for it the appropriate registration fees and flat weight tax, as evidenced by the Illinois registration issued for that vehicle, for the gross weight of the vehicle and load being operated or moved. Second division vehicles of foreign jurisdictions operated upon any street or highway within the City under a single trip permit, fleet reciprocity plan, prorate registration plan, or apportional registration plan, instead of second division vehicle registration under Article VIII of the IVC, must have had paid for it the appropriate registration fees and flat weight tax in the base jurisdiction of that vehicle, as evidenced by the maximum gross weight shown on the foreign registration cards, plus any appropriate fees required under the IVC.
(B) 
If a vehicle and load are operated upon any street or highway within the City and the appropriate fees and taxes have not been paid or the vehicle and load exceed the registered gross weight for which the required fees and taxes have been paid by 2,001 pounds or more, the operator or owner shall be fined as provided in § 14.123. However, no fine shall exceed the actual cost of what the appropriate registration for that vehicle and load should have been as established in Subsection (a) of § 3-815 of the IVC regardless of the route traveled. For purposes of this subsection, "appropriate registration" means the full annual cost of the required registration and its associated fees.
(C) 
Any person operating a legal combination of vehicles displaying valid registration shall not be considered in violation of the registration provision of this section unless the total gross weight of the combination exceeds the total licensed weight of the vehicles in the combination. The gross weight of a vehicle exempt from the registration requirements of this section shall not be included when determining the total gross weight of vehicles in combination. Any vehicle operating under an emergency harvest permit, as described in Subsection (e-1) of § 15-301 of the IVC, shall not be in violation of this subsection.
(D) 
If the person operating a vehicle or in violation of this section claims that he or she had previously paid the appropriate Illinois registration fees and taxes for this vehicle before the alleged violation, he shall have the burden of proving the existence of the payment by competent evidence. Proof of proper Illinois registration issued by the Secretary of State, or the appropriate registration authority from the foreign state, shall be the only competent evidence of payment.
(A) 
Whenever any vehicle is operated in violation of the provisions of §§ 14.121 or 14.122, the owner or driver of such vehicle shall be deemed guilty of such violation and either the owner or the driver of such vehicle may be prosecuted for such violation. Any person charged with a violation of any of these provisions who pleads not guilty shall be present in court for the trial on the charge. Any person, firm or corporation convicted of any such violation shall be fined [except as may be limited by § 14.122(B)] according to the following schedule:
Gross Pounds Overweight
Fine
From 1 through 2,000:
$100
From 2,001 through 2,500:
$270
From 2,501 through 3,000:
$330
From 3,001 through 3,500:
$520
From 3,501 through 4,000:
$600
From 4,001 through 4,500:
$850
From 4,501 through 5,000:
$950
For 5,001 and over:
For vehicles that are 5,001 or more pounds overweight, the fine shall be computed by assessing $1,500 for the first 5,000 pounds overweight and $150 for each additional increment of 500 pounds overweight or fraction thereof.
(B) 
In addition any person, firm or corporation convicted of four or more violations of § 14.121 within any twelve-month period shall be fined an additional amount of $5,000 for the fourth and each subsequent conviction within the twelve-month period; provided, however, that with regard to a firm or corporation, a fourth or subsequent conviction shall mean a fourth or subsequent conviction attributable to any one employee-driver.
Persons charged with a violation of § 14.121 or 14.122, unless released on a written promise to comply, shall post cash bail in an amount equal to the amount of the minimum fine fixed by § 14.123, plus any other penalties and costs. The accused may, in lieu of cash bail, deposit a money order issued by a money transfer service company which has been approved by the Administrative Director under regulations issued by the Illinois Supreme Court. The money order shall be made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. When the bail for any offense hereunder does not exceed $500, the accused may, at his option, deposit a truck bond certificate in lieu of bail. A separate bail shall be required for each case involving truck violation.