(625 ILCS 5/18b-101) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 18b-101)

Sec. 18b-101. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, as used in this Chapter:

"Agricultural commodities" means any agricultural commodity, non-processed food, feed, fiber, or livestock, including insects.

"Agricultural operations" means the operation of a motor vehicle or combination of vehicles transporting agricultural commodities or farm supplies for agricultural purposes.

"Air mile" means a nautical mile, which is equivalent to 6,076 feet or 1,852 meters. Accordingly, 100 air miles are equivalent to 115.08 statute miles or 185.2 kilometers.

"Commercial motor vehicle" means any self propelled or towed vehicle used on public highways in interstate and intrastate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight, a gross vehicle weight rating, a gross combination weight, or a gross combination weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds; or the vehicle is used or designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver; or the vehicle is designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers and is operated by a contract carrier transporting employees in the course of their employment on a highway of this State; or the vehicle is used or designed to transport between 9 and 15 passengers, including the driver, for direct compensation; or the vehicle is used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act. This definition shall not include farm machinery, fertilizer spreaders, and other special agricultural movement equipment described in Section 3-809 nor implements of husbandry as defined in Section 1-130.

"Covered farm vehicle", for purposes of this Chapter and rule-making under this Chapter, means a straight truck or articulated vehicle, excluding vehicles transporting hazardous materials of a type or quantity that requires the vehicle to be placarded in accordance with the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, registered in this State or another state and equipped with a special license plate or other designation by the state in which the vehicle is registered identifying the vehicle as a covered farm vehicle for law enforcement personnel and:

(1) is operated by a farm or ranch owner or operator, or an employee or family member of the farm or ranch owner or operator; and

(2) is being used to transport the following to or from a farm or ranch:

(A) agricultural commodities;

(B) livestock; or

(C) machinery or supplies; and

(3) if registered in this State, is:

(A) registered as a farm truck under subsection (c) of Section 3-815 of this Code; or

(B) operated in combination as an articulated vehicle when the truck in the combination is registered for 12,000 lbs. or less as a covered farm vehicle under subsections (a) and (a-5) of Section 3-815 of this Code or subsection (a) of Section 3-818 of this Code and contains in the cab of the motor vehicle a registration designating the vehicle as a covered farm vehicle under subsections (a) and (a-5) of Section 3-815 of this Code and the trailer in the combination is registered as a farm trailer under subsection (a) of Section 3-819 of this Code and displays a farm registration license plate; or

(C) a truck registered for 12,000 lbs. or less as a covered farm vehicle under subsections (a) and (a-5) of Section 3-815 of this Code or subsection (a) of Section 3-818 of this Code containing in the cab of the motor vehicle a registration designating the vehicle as a covered farm vehicle under subsections (a) and (a-5) of Section 3-815 of this Code that is towing an implement of husbandry as part of a farming operation; and

(4) is not used in for-hire motor carrier operations; however, for-hire motor carrier operations do not include the operation of a vehicle meeting the definition of a covered farm vehicle by a tenant pursuant to a crop share farm lease agreement to transport the landlord's portion of the crops under that agreement; and

(5) has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), a gross combination weight rating (GCWR), or a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle combination weight, whichever is greater, that is:

(A) 26,001 lbs. or less, for vehicles operating in interstate commerce; or

(B) greater than 26,001 lbs., operating in interstate commerce and registered in this State; or

(C) greater than 26,001 lbs. and traveling interstate within 150 air miles of the farm or ranch for which the vehicle is being operated, regardless of whether it is registered in this State; or

(D) greater than 10,000 lbs. and traveling intrastate.

"Direct compensation" means payment made to the motor carrier by the passengers or a person acting on behalf of the passengers for the transportation services provided, and not included in a total package charge or other assessment for highway transportation services.

"Farm supplies for agricultural purposes" means products directly related to the growing or harvesting of agricultural commodities and livestock feed at any time of the year.

"Livestock" means cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry (including egg-producing poultry), fish used for food, and other animals designated by the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation (at his or her sole discretion) that are part of a foundation herd (including producing dairy cattle) or offspring.

"Officer" means Illinois State Police Officer.

"Person" means any natural person or individual, governmental body, firm, association, partnership, copartnership, joint venture, company, corporation, joint stock company, trust, estate or any other legal entity or their legal representative, agent or assigns.

(Source: P.A. 97-795, eff. 1-1-13; 98-882, eff. 8-13-14.)