Section 110.160  Vehicles – Operation on Roadway – Speed – Parking – Weight Limit

It shall be unlawful, on Department-owned, -leased or -managed property:

a)         For any person to operate any motor vehicle other than on roadways or trails designated for that activity, except that Site Superintendents shall, if it is to the Department's benefit, grant written permission to individuals or contractors to operate vehicles on areas other than roadways specifically posted as trafficways.  These exceptions include, but are not limited to, access by lessees to leased property or adjacent private property; access by contractors to the contract work sites; and access by volunteers to project or program areas that assist the site.

1)         For any person to operate a snowmobile in any area other than on posted trails, except that Site Superintendents shall, if it is to the Department's benefit, grant written permission to individuals to operate snowmobiles on other than posted trails.  These exceptions include, but are not limited to, access by lessees to leased property or adjacent private property; access by contractors to the contract work sites; and access by volunteers to project or program areas that assist the site.

2)         For any person to operate any motor driven bicycle (as defined by Section 1-145.001 of the Illinois Vehicle Code), mini-bike, moped (as defined by Section 1-148.2 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5]),motorcycle or off-road vehicle unless it is on a roadway designated for vehicular use or on a designated area established by the Department for off-road vehicular use, except that Site Superintendents shall, if it is to the Department's benefit, grant written permission to individuals to operate these vehicles on areas other than those designated for off-road vehicular use.  These exceptions include, but are not limited to, access by lessees to leased property or adjacent private property; access by contractors to the contract work sites; and access by volunteers to project or program areas that assist the site.

b)         For any person to operate, or cause to be operated, any motor vehicle (as defined by Section 1-146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5]) upon any road, path, or drive in any manner that is greater than 20 M.P.H. unless otherwise posted.

c)         For any person to operate, or cause to be operated, any motor vehicle (as defined by Section 1-146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5]) upon any parking area in any manner that is greater than 10 M.P.H. unless otherwise posted.

d)         For any person to operate, or cause to be operated, any motor vehicle (as defined by Section 1-146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5]) upon any road, path, parking area or drive at a speed which is greater than is responsible and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the road, path, parking area, or drive, or endangers the safety of any person or property.  The fact that the speed of a vehicle does not exceed the applicable maximum speed limit does not relieve the driver from the duty to decrease speed when approaching and crossing an intersection, approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.  Speed must be decreased as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person or vehicle on or entering the road, path, parking area or drive in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.

e)         For any person to disobey a traffic control device.

f)         For any person to park a motor vehicle in any area that is not posted as a parking area, or to park a vehicle in any area for the purpose of repair, except those immediate repairs necessary to remove the vehicle from the area immediately.

g)         For any person to exceed a combined vehicle and content weight limit of 20,000 lbs. (10 ton) unless it is otherwise posted by sign on any Department roadway except that Site Superintendents shall, if it is to the Department's benefit, grant written permission to individuals or contractors to operate these vehicles on posted roadways.  These exceptions include, but are not limited to, access by lessees utilizing farm equipment to get to leased property or adjacent private property; access by contractors to the contract work sites; access by vendors delivering materials.

h)         For any person to operate a snowmobile in any portion of a park or recreation area, where snowmobiles are allowed to operate, with less than four inches of snow cover.

i)          Except in cases of emergency, for any person to land or attempt to land any aircraft on Department-owned, -leased or -managed property without prior authorization for each landing or attempted landing from the Department.

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 12553, effective September 24, 2021)