Whenever in this chapter the following terms
are used, they shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them
in this article.
A public way within a block generally giving access to the
rear of lots or buildings, and not used for general traffic circulation.
Every motor vehicle, other than a commuter van, designed
for carrying more than 10 passengers and used for the transportation
of persons; and every motor vehicle other than a taxi cab, designed
and used for the transportation of persons for compensation.
A motor vehicle designed for the transportation of not less
than seven nor more than 16 passengers, which is:
Used in a ride-sharing arrangement.
Owned or leased by or on behalf of a company
or an employee organization and operated on a nonprofit basis with
the primary purposes of transporting employees of the company between
the employees' homes and the company's place of business or a public
transportation station and in which the operating, administrative,
maintenance and reasonable depreciation costs are paid principally
by the persons utilizing the commuter van.
The territory within the City contiguous to and including
a street or highway when within any 600 feet along such highway there
are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes, including
but not limited to hotels, banks, or office buildings, railroad stations,
and public buildings which occupy at least 300 feet of frontage on
one side or 300 feet collectively on both sides of the highway.
Every street or highway in respect to which owners or occupants
of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access
to or from the same except at such points only as may be determined
by the public authority having jurisdiction over such roadway, street
or highway.
That part of a roadway at an intersection included
within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite
sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of
curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway; and in the absence
of a sidewalk on one side of the highway, that part of the highway
included within the extension of the lateral line of the existing
sidewalk to the side of the highway without the sidewalk, with such
extension forming a right angle to the center line of the highway.
Any portion of a roadway at an intersection
or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines
or other markings on the surface, placed in accordance with the regulations
of the State of Illinois.
Every person who drives or is in actual physical control
of a vehicle.
Police vehicles, vehicles of the Fire Rescue Department,
ambulances, vehicles carrying a state, county or municipal officer
or employee in response to an emergency call, and emergency vehicles
of public service corporations on an emergency call.
Any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly
used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion and which
contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in
such proportions, quantities, or packing that an ignition by fire,
by friction, by concussion, by percussion, or by a detonator of any
part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation
of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable
of producing destructible effects on contiguous objects or of destroying
life or limb.
Every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm
implement for drawing wagons, plows, mowing machines and other implements
of husbandry which is self-propelled, excluding all-terrain vehicles
and off-highway motorcycles as defined in this Code.
Any liquid which has a flash point of 70° F. or less,
as determined by Tagliabue or equivalent closed-cup test device.
A roadway of concrete, brick, asphalt macadam or gravel.
The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of
the lateral curblines or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines
of the roadways of two streets or highways which join one another
at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles
traveling upon different roadways joining at any other angle may come
in conflict.
A street, the roadway of which is divided into two or more
clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use
of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or materials.
A maneuver executed by the drivers of vehicles on converging
roadways to permit simultaneous or alternate entry into the junction
thereof, wherein the driver of each vehicle involved is required to
adjust his/her vehicular speed and lateral position so as to avoid
a collision with any other vehicle.
Every tire the surface of which in contact with the roadway
is wholly or partially of metal or other hard, nonresilient material.
Every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of
the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in
contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.
Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which
is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead wires, except
for vehicles moved solely by human power and motorized wheelchairs,
but not operated upon rails. For the purpose of this chapter, motor
vehicles as a class shall be divided into two divisions:
Those vehicles which are designed for the carrying
of not more than 10 persons.
Those vehicles which are designed for pulling
or carrying freight, cargo or implements of husbandry and those vehicles
which are designed for the carrying of more than 10 persons, and those
vehicles designed or used for living quarters.
Any self-propelled vehicle, including a three-wheeled vehicle,
designed for and used by a person with disabilities that is incapable
of a speed in excess of eight miles per hour on level ground.
[Amended 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161]
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, for a
period of time greater than is reasonably necessary for the actual
loading or unloading of persons.
A mechanical device located upon a public street or sidewalk
in a place designated by the City Council as a parking meter zone
hereafter defined, which device shall record a certain number of minutes
by the use of a clock mechanism determining the period of time for
which parking privileges may be extended to the person depositing
a coin therein.
Parking meter zone shall be such as may from time to time
be established by ordinance and the area designated by the City Council
where a vehicle may be temporarily parked and allowed to remain for
the period of time indicated on the meter.
A person afoot, including a person with a physical, hearing
or visual disability.
[Amended 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161]
Every natural person, firm, copartnership, association or
corporation.
Every tire in which compressed air is designed to support
the load.
All members of the regularly constituted Police Department,
special police, auxiliary police and marshals duly constituted and
appointed by proper authorities of the City.
The line marking the boundary between any street and the
lots or property abutting thereon.
A building used by the municipality, the county, any park
district, school district, the State of Illinois, or the United States
government.
Any sign, signal or device erected by authority of a public
body or official or by a railroad and intended to give notice of the
presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train.
The territory of the City contiguous to and including a street
or highway not comprising a business district when the property on
such street or highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is in the
main improved with residences or residences and buildings in the use
for business. For purposes of establishing maximum speed limits, a
residence district shall be at least a quarter-mile long with residences
or residences and buildings in use for businesses spaced no more than
300 feet apart.
A voluntary association of individuals or a fire department
dedicated to savings lives through the rescue of persons entrapped
in wrecked vehicles or other hazardous circumstances and associated
with some unit of government.
A vehicle specifically designed, configured, and equipped
for the performance of access and extrication from hazardous or life-endangering
situations. Such vehicles may or may not have emergency medical transport
capability.
A lane of a two-or-more-laned roadway upon which traffic
may be directed to move in either direction by means of lane-control
signals or other devices, in conjunction with official signs.
The right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful
manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching
under such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give
rise to danger or collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
Every motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles
and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon either independently
or any part of the weight of a vehicle or load so drawn.
The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for
the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or is so marked
or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times
while set apart as a safety zone.
Every motor vehicle, except as provided in Subsection B below owned or operated by or for any of the following entities for the transportation of persons regularly enrolled as students in grade 12 or below in connection with any activity of such entity:
This definition shall not include the following:
A bus operated by a public utility, municipal
corporation or common carrier authorized to conduct local or interurban
transportation of passengers when such bus is not traveling a specific
school bus route but is:
On a regularly scheduled route for the transportation
of other fare-paying passengers.
Furnishing charter service for the transportation
of groups on field trips or other special trips or in connection with
other special events.
Being used for shuttle service between attendance
centers or other educational facilities.
A motor vehicle as defined in the definition
of "vehicle" below.
[Amended 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161]
A motor vehicle designed for the transportation
of not less than seven nor more than 16 persons that is operated by
or for a public or private primary or secondary school, including
any primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution,
for the purpose of transporting not more than 15 students to and from
interscholastic athletic or other interscholastic or school-sponsored
activities.
[Added 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161]
Every vehicle without motive power designed for carrying
persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so
constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests
upon or is carried by another vehicle.
That portion of a street between the curbline or roadway
and the adjacent property line designated for pedestrian use.
Every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does
not depend upon compressed air for the support of the load.
An auxiliary lane, including tapered areas, primarily for
the acceleration or deceleration of vehicles entering or leaving the
through traffic lanes.
The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise
than temporary for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving
or discharging passengers.
The entire width between boundary lines of every way publicly
maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public
for purposes of vehicular travel.
[Amended 2-20-2007 by Ord. No. 6161]
That portion of any City, village or incorporated town other
than the business and residence districts.
Every highway or portion thereof on which vehicular traffic
is given preferential right-of-way and at the entrances to which vehicular
traffic from intersecting highways is required by law to yield right-of-way
to vehicles on such through highway in obedience to either a stop
sign or a yield sign when such signs are erected as provided in this
chapter.
Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other
conveyances whether singly or together while using any highway for
the purpose of travel.
Every vehicle with motive power designed for carrying passengers
or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed
that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
Every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily
for the transportation of property.
Every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing
other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than
a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.
The territory contiguous to and including any street which
is built up with structures devoted to business, industry or dwelling
houses situated at intervals of less than 100 feet for a distance
of a 1/4 mile or more.
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property
is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices moved
by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks
and snowmobiles as defined in the Snowmobile Registration and Safety
Act (625 ILCS 40/1-1 et seq.). For the purpose of this chapter, motor
vehicles as a class shall be divided into two divisions:
Those vehicles which are designed for the carrying
of not more than 10 persons (first-division vehicle).
Those vehicles which are designed for carrying
more than 10 persons, those designed or used for living quarters and
those vehicles which are designed for pulling or carrying freight
or cargo, those motor vehicles of the first class remodeled for use
and used as motor vehicles of the second class, and those motor vehicles
of the first class used and registered as school buses (second-division
vehicle).
When required by an official sign, the act of granting the
privilege of the immediate use of the intersecting roadway to traffic
within the intersection and to vehicles approaching from the right
or left, provided that when the roadway is clear the vehicle may proceed
into the intersection.
No person shall wilfully fail or refuse to comply
with any lawful order or direction of any police officer, fire fighter
or school crossing guard invested by law with authority to direct,
control or regulate traffic. Except in case of emergency, it shall
be unlawful for any person not authorized by law to direct or attempt
to direct traffic.
The Fire Rescue Department officer in command
or any fire fighter designated by him/her may exercise the powers
and authority of a police officer in directing traffic at the scene
of any fire or where the Fire Rescue Department has responded to an
emergency call or so long as Fire Rescue Department equipment is on
the scene in the absence of or in assisting the police.
It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle
to disobey the instructions of any traffic sign or signal placed in
view by authority of the corporate authorities or in accordance with
the laws of the State of Illinois, except on direction of a police
officer. All signs and signals established by direction of the governing
body shall conform to the Illinois State Manual of Uniform Traffic
Control Devices for Streets and Highways.
Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control
signals exhibiting different colored lights or color lighted arrows
successively, one at a time or in combination, only the colors green,
red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals
carrying a word legend, and the lights shall indicate and apply to
drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
A.Â
Green indication.
(1)Â
Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may
proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such
place prohibits either such turn. Vehicular traffic, including vehicles
turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles
and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent
crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.
(2)Â
Pedestrians facing a green arrow signal, shown alone
or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the
intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or
such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at
the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way
to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other
traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(3)Â
Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control
signal, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole
green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within
any marked or unmarked crosswalk.
B.Â
Steady yellow indication.
(1)Â
Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow
or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement
is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately
thereafter.
(2)Â
Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow
arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal,
are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway
before a red indication is shown, and no pedestrian shall then start
to cross the roadway.
C.Â
Steady red indication.
(1)Â
Except as provided in Subsection C(3), vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
(2)Â
Except as provided in Subsection C(3), vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow and, unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication permitting the movement indicated by such red arrow is shown.
(3)Â
Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn and local authorities by ordinance or state authorities by rule or regulation prohibit any such turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street, after stopping as required by Subsection C(1) or (2) above. After stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction or roadways. Such driver shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.
(4)Â
Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control
signal, pedestrians facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal
alone shall not enter the roadway.
D.Â
In the event an official traffic control signal is
erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the
provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to provisions
which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall
be at a traffic sign or a marking on the pavement indicating where
the stop shall be made or, in the absence of such sign or marking,
the stop shall be made at the signal.
E.Â
The operator of any streetcar shall obey the above
signals as applicable to vehicles.
F.Â
In the event an official traffic control signal or
flashing red signal is erected and maintained at a place other than
an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable
except as to provisions which by their nature can have no application.
Any stop required shall be at a sign or marking
Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow
signal is used in conjunction with a traffic control device it shall
require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:
A.Â
Flashing red (stop signal). When a red lens is illuminated
with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop at
a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk
on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then at a point
nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching
traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection
and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable
after making a stop at a stop sign.
B.Â
Flashing yellow (caution signal). When a yellow lens
is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles
may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with
caution.
C.Â
This section does not apply at railroad grade crossings.
Whenever lane control signals are used in conjunction
with official signs, they shall have the following meaning:
A.Â
Downward-pointing green arrow. A driver facing this
indication is permitted to drive in the lane over which the arrow
signal is located. Otherwise he/she shall obey all other traffic controls
present and follow normal safe driving practices.
B.Â
Red X symbol. A driver facing this indication shall
not drive in the lane over which the signal is located, and this indication
shall modify accordingly the meaning of all other traffic controls
present. Otherwise the driver shall obey all other traffic controls
and follow normal safe driving practices.
C.Â
Yellow X (steady). A driver facing this indication
should prepare to vacate the lane over which the signal is located,
in a safe manner to avoid, if possible, occupying that lane when a
steady red X is displayed.
D.Â
Flashing yellow arrow. A driver facing this indication
may use the lane only for the purpose of approaching and making a
left turn.
Whenever special pedestrian control signals
exhibiting the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the illuminated symbols
of a walking person or an upraised palm are in place, such signals
shall indicate as follows:
A.Â
Walk or walking person symbol. Pedestrians facing
such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the
signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the driver of all vehicles.
B.Â
Don't Walk or upraised palm symbol. While the "Don't
Walk" or upraised palm symbol is illuminated, either steady or flashing,
no pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of
the signal, but any pedestrian who has partly completed crossing during
the "Walk" signal or walking person symbol shall proceed to a sidewalk
or safety island, if one is provided.
A.Â
No person shall place, maintain or display upon or
in view of any highway an unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device
which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official
traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts
to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes
with the movement of traffic or the effectiveness of an official traffic
control device or any railroad sign or signal.
B.Â
No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public
authority permit upon any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing
thereon any commercial advertising.
C.Â
Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby
declared to be a public nuisance and the authority having jurisdiction
over the highway is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it
to be removed without notice.
D.Â
No person shall sell or offer for sale any traffic
control device to be used on any street or highway in this City which
does not conform to the requirements of this chapter.
E.Â
No tree, bush or foliage of any kind shall be so placed,
maintained, allowed to remain, or displayed upon either public or
private property in such a manner as to hide from view or interfere
with the movement of traffic or the effectiveness of any traffic control
devices, sign or signal.
No person shall without lawful authority attempt
to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official
traffic control device, or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription,
shield, or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof.
The Department of Transportation and local authorities,
with reference to traffic control signs, signals or markers owned
by the Department of Transportation or local authority, are authorized
to indicate the ownership of the signs, signals or markers on the
back of such devices in letters not less than 3/8 inch or more than
3/4 inch in height, by use of a metal stamp, etching or other permanent
means and, except for employees of the Department of Transportation
or local authorities, police officers, contractors and their employees
engaged in a highway construction contract or work on the highway
approved by the Department of Transportation or local authority, it
is unlawful for any person to possess such sign, signal or marker
so identified.
A.Â
It shall be unlawful to maintain anywhere in the City
any sign, signal, marking or device, other than a traffic sign or
signal authorized by the City Council or the Illinois State Department
of Public Works and Buildings, which purports to be or is an imitation
of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign
or signal, in view of any street or highway, and it shall be unlawful
to place or maintain any sign which hides from view any lawful traffic
control device.
B.Â
It shall be unlawful to maintain or operate in view
of any street or highway any flashing or rotating beacon of light.
No person shall operate an ambulance, which
shall include any motor vehicle primarily designed and used for conveyance
of sick or injured persons, in a manner not conforming to a provision
of the motor vehicle laws and regulations of this state or ordinance
of this City as such provision applies to motor vehicles in general,
except in compliance with the following conditions:
A.Â
The person operating the ambulance shall be either
responding to a bona fide emergency call or specifically directed
by a licensed physician to disregard traffic laws in operating the
ambulance during and for the purpose of the specific trip or journey
that is involved;
B.Â
The ambulance shall be equipped with a siren producing
an audible signal of an intensity of 100 decibels at a distance of
50 feet from said siren, and with a lamp omitting an oscillating,
rotating or flashing red beam directed in part toward the front of
the vehicle, and these lamps shall have sufficient intensity to be
visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight;
C.Â
The aforesaid siren and lamp shall be in full operation
at all times when it is reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and
other drivers of the approach thereof during such trip or journey;
and
D.Â
Whenever the ambulance is operated at a speed in excess
of 40 miles per hour, the ambulance shall be operated in complete
conformance with every other motor vehicle law and regulation of this
state and ordinances of this City in which the ambulance is operated,
relating to the operation of motor vehicles, as such provision applies
to motor vehicles in general, except laws and regulations pertaining
to compliance with official traffic control devices or to vehicular
operation upon the right half of the roadway.
Any person riding a bicycle or an animal, or
driving any animal drawing a vehicle upon any street, shall be subject
to the provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle,
except those provisions which can have no application to one riding
a bicycle or driving or riding an animal.
A.Â
The provisions of this chapter regulating the movement
or parking of vehicles shall not apply to the driver of any authorized
emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call, but such driver
when approaching shall slow down as necessary for safety but may proceed
cautiously past a red or stop sign or signal. At other times, drivers
of authorized emergency vehicles shall stop in obedience to a stop
sign or signal.
B.Â
No driver of any authorized emergency vehicle shall
assume any special privileges except when such vehicle is operated
in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an
actual or suspected violator of the law.
C.Â
The provisions of this chapter regulating the movement
and parking of vehicles shall not apply to persons, equipment or vehicles
actually engaged in installing, repairing, or otherwise improving
streets or street pavements.
