Public Act 0298 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB0025 Enrolled LRB094 00036 RLC 30036 b

Public Act 094-0298

AN ACT concerning vehicles.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by adding Section 11-1426.1 as follows:

(625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1 new)

Sec. 11-1426.1. Operation of neighborhood electric vehicles on streets, roads, and highways.

(a) As used in this Section, "neighborhood electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electronically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle which is capable of attaining in one mile a speed of more than 20 miles per hour, but not more than 25 miles per hour, and which conforms to federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R. Part 571.500.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, it is unlawful for any person to drive or operate a neighborhood electric vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in this State. If the operation of a neighborhood electric vehicle is authorized under subsection (d), the neighborhood electric vehicle may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. This subsection (b) does not prohibit a neighborhood electric vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.

(b-5) A person may not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in this State unless he or she has a valid Illinois driver's license issued in his or her name by the Secretary of State.

(c) No person operating a neighborhood electric vehicle shall make a direct crossing upon or across any highway under the jurisdiction of the State, tollroad, interstate highway, or controlled access highway in this State.

(d) A municipality, township, county, or other unit of local government may authorize, by ordinance or resolution, the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles on roadways under its jurisdiction if the unit of local government determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized. The Department may authorize the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles on the roadways under its jurisdiction if the Department determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized.

Before permitting the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles on its roadways, a municipality, township, county, other unit of local government, or the Department must consider the volume, speed, and character of traffic on the roadway and determine whether neighborhood electric vehicles may safely travel on or cross the roadway. Upon determining that neighborhood electric vehicles may safely operate on a roadway and the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by a municipality, township, county, or other unit of local government, or authorization by the Department, appropriate signs shall be posted.

If a roadway is under the jurisdiction of more than one unit of government, neighborhood electric vehicles may not be operated on the roadway unless each unit of government agrees and takes action as provided in this subsection.

(e) No neighborhood electric vehicle may be operated on a roadway unless, at a minimum, it has the following: brakes, a steering apparatus, tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices in the front and rear, a slow moving emblem (as required of other vehicles in Section 12-709 of this Code) on the rear of the neighborhood electric vehicle, a headlight that emits a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front, a tail lamp that emits a red light visible from at least 100 feet from the rear, brake lights, and turn signals. When operated on a roadway, a neighborhood electric vehicle shall have its headlight and tail lamps lighted as required by Section 12-201 of this Code.

(f) A person who drives or is in actual physical control of a neighborhood electric vehicle on a roadway while under the influence is subject to Sections 11-500 through 11-502 of this Code.