The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this title, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE: Any motorized off highway device fifty inches (50") or less in width, having a manufacturer's dry weight of six hundred (600) pounds or less, traveling on three (3) or more low pressure tires, designed with a seat or saddle for operator use, and handlebars or steering wheel for steering control.
ALLEY: A public way within a block, generally giving access to the rear of lots or buildings and not used for general traffic circulation.
AMBULANCE: Any publicly or privately owned vehicle which is specifically designed, constructed or modified and equipped, and is intended to be used for, and is maintained or operated for, the emergency transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE: Any emergency vehicle of a municipality or public service corporation as designated or authorized by proper local authorities; police vehicle; vehicle of any fire protection district or fire department authorized by proper local authorities; and any ambulance.
BICYCLE: Every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels, except scooters and similar devices.
BUSINESS DISTRICT: The territory contiguous to and including a street when, within six hundred feet (600') along such street, there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes which occupy at least three hundred feet (300') collectively on both sides of the street.
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE: Any vehicle operated for the transportation of persons or property in the furtherance of any commercial or industrial enterprise, for hire or not for hire.
CROSSWALK: A. 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 centerline of the highway.
B. 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 provisions in the manual adopted by the state department of transportation.
DRIVER: Every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
EXPLOSIVES: 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 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 destructive effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb.
FARM TRACTOR: Every motorized device designed and used primarily as a farm implement, for drawing wagons, plows, mowing machines and other implements of husbandry, and every implement of husbandry which is self-propelled.
FLAMMABLE LIQUID: Any liquid which has a flashpoint of seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70°F) or less, as determined by a Tagliabue or equivalent closed cup test device.
GOLF CART: See definition of golf cart in section 6-10-2 of this title.
GROSS WEIGHT: The weight of a vehicle, whether operated singly or in combination without load, plus the weight of the load thereon.
HOUSE TRAILER: A. A trailer or semitrailer equipped and used for living quarters or for human habitation (temporarily or permanently) rather than for the transportation of freight, goods, wares and merchandise; or
B. A house trailer or a semitrailer which is used commercially (temporarily or permanently), that is for the advertising, sales, display or promotion of merchandise or services, or for any other commercial purpose except the transportation of property for hire or the transportation of property for distribution by a private carrier.
IMPROVED HIGHWAY: Any roadway of concrete, brick, asphalt, macadam, and crushed stone or gravel.
INTERSECTION: The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two (2) 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. Where a highway includes two (2) roadways forty feet (40') or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. The junction of an alley with a street or highway does not constitute an intersection.
JUNK VEHICLE: A vehicle which has been or is being disassembled, crushed, compressed, flattened, destroyed or otherwise reduced to a state in which it no longer can be returned to an operable state.
LANED ROADWAY: A roadway which is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
LOADING ZONE: The space adjacent to a curb reserved for the exclusive use of vehicles during the loading or unloading of passengers or material.
MOTOR DRIVEN CYCLE: Every motorcycle and every motor scooter with less than one hundred fifty (150) cubic centimeter piston displacement including motorized pedalcycles.
MOTOR HOME, MINI-MOTOR HOME OR VAN CAMPER: A self-contained motor vehicle, not used commercially, designed or permanently converted to provide living quarters for recreational, camping or travel use, with direct walk through access to the living quarters from the driver's seat. Such vehicles must include at least four (4) of the following:
A. A cooking facility with an onboard fuel source;
B. A gas or electric refrigerator;
C. A toilet with exterior evacuation;
D. A heating or air conditioning system with an onboard power or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine;
E. A potable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet, and a water tank with an exterior service supply connection; and
F. A 110-125 volt electric power supply.
MOTOR VEHICLE: Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except for vehicles moved solely by human power and motorized wheelchairs. Motor vehicles are divided into two (2) divisions:
A. First division: Those motor vehicles which are designed for the carrying of not more than ten (10) persons.
B. Second division: Those motor vehicles which are designed for carrying more than ten (10) persons; those motor vehicles designed or used for living quarters; those motor vehicles which are designed for pulling or carrying freight, cargo or implements of husbandry; and those motor vehicles of the first division remodeled for use and used as motor vehicles of the second division.
MOTORCYCLE: Every motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designated to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.
MOTORIZED PEDALCYCLE: A motor driven cycle whose speed attainable in one mile is thirty (30) miles per hour or less, which is equipped with a motor that produces two (2) brake horsepower or less. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement shall not exceed fifty (50) cubic centimeter displacement and the power drive system shall not require the operator to shift gears.
MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR: Any self-propelled vehicle designed for and used by a person with disabilities, that is incapable of a speed in excess of eight (8) miles per hour on level ground.
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES: All signs, signals, markings, and devices which conform with the state manual and not inconsistent with law placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.
OPERATE: To ride in or on, other than as a passenger, use or control in any manner the operation of any device or vehicle, whether motorized or propelled by human power.
OPERATOR: Every person who operates or is in actual physical control of any device or vehicle, whether motorized or propelled by human power.
OWNER: A person who holds legal title of a vehicle, or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of such vehicle is entitled to possession, then such conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner.
PARADE: Any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant or procession of any kind, or any similar display, in or upon any street, highway or sidewalk.
PARK OR PARKING: The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than when temporarily and actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
PARKING SPACE: Any area in a parking lot or street which has been marked for parking by lines painted on the pavement and/or by the placement of signs.
PARKING SPACE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: That parking space, on public or private property, designated by the city and marked with appropriate signs and/or markings restricting the space to vehicles operated or transporting persons with disabilities.
PEDESTRIAN: Any person afoot.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: Every natural person who is unable to walk two hundred feet (200') or more unassisted by another person or without the aid of a walker, crutches, braces, prosthetic device or a wheelchair or without great difficulty or discomfort due to the following impairments: neurologic, orthopedic, respiratory, cardiac, arthritic disorder, blindness or the loss of function or absence of a limb.
PNEUMATIC TIRE: Every tire in which compressed air is designed to support the load.
POLICE OFFICER: Every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.
PRIVATE ROAD OR DRIVEWAY: Every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons.
RAILROAD: A carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails.
RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING: The intersection of stationary rails owned or used in the operation of a railroad corporation across a highway.
RAILROAD SIGN OR SIGNAL: Any sign, signal or device, other than an official traffic control signal or device, erected in accordance with the laws governing same and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train.
RESIDENCE DISTRICT: The territory contiguous to and including a highway not comprising a business district when the property on such highway for a distance of three hundred feet (300') or more is the main improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for business.
RIGHT OF WAY: 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 of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
ROAD TRACTOR: 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.
SAFETY ZONE: 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 signs as to be plainly visible at all times, which part is set apart as a safety zone.
SCHOOL BUS: Every motor vehicle 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:
A. Any public or private primary or secondary school;
B. Any primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution; or
C. Any public, private or religious nursery school.
SEMITRAILER: Every vehicle without motive power, other than a pole trailer, 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.
SHOPPING CENTER: Premises having one or more stores with which there is provided, on privately owned property used by the public, a means to enter and depart from those stores and for the parking of motor vehicles of customers or patrons.
SHOULDER: That portion of the highway adjacent to the roadway for accommodating stopped vehicles or for emergency use.
SIDE-BY-SIDE VEHICLE: See definition of side-by-side vehicle in section 6-10-2 of this title.
SIDEWALK: That portion of a street between curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines, intended for use of pedestrians.
STAND OR STANDING: The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than when temporarily and actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.
STOP: Complete cessation from movement.
STOP OR STOPPING: Any halting, even momentarily, of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.
STREET OR HIGHWAY: 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.
TERRACE: That portion of a public street which lies between the curb and the nearest boundary line of such public street.
THROUGH STREET: Every street 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 the right-of-way to vehicles on such through street in obedience to either a stop sign or yield sign, when such signs are erected.
TOW TRUCK: Every truck designed or altered and equipped for and used to push, tow or draw vehicles by means of a crane, hoist, towbar, towline, or auxiliary axle, or to render assistance to disabled vehicles.
TOWER: A person who owns or operates a tow truck or a wrecker.
TRAFFIC: Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any highway for purposes of travel.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL: Any official traffic control device other than a railroad sign or signal, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed.
TRAILER: Every vehicle without motive power in operation, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
TRAVEL TRAILER: A trailer, not used commercially, designed to provide living quarters for recreational camping or travel use, and of a size or weight not requiring an overdimension permit when towed on a highway.
TRUCK: Every motor vehicle, except a road tractor or a truck- tractor, designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
TRUCK CAMPER: A truck, not used commercially, when equipped with a portable unit designed to be loaded onto the bed which is construed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, travel or camping use.
TRUCK-TRACTOR: 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.
VEHICLE: A. 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, devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, and snowmobiles as defined by Illinois law.
B. For the purposes of this title, unless otherwise prescribed, a device shall be considered to be a vehicle until such time it either becomes within the definition of a "junk vehicle" or a junking certificate is issued for it.
C. Vehicles are divided into two (2) divisions:
1. First Division: Those motor vehicles which are designed for the carrying of not more than ten (10) persons.
2. Second Division: Those vehicles which are designed for carrying more than ten (10) persons; those designed or used for living quarters; and those vehicles which are designed for pulling or carrying property, freight, or cargo; those motor vehicles of the first division remodeled for use and used as motor vehicles of the second division; and those motor vehicles of the first division used and registered as school buses.
YIELD RIGHT-OF-WAY: 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 but, when the roadway is clear, may proceed into the intersection, when required by an official sign. (2006 Code § 9-1-1-1; amd. 2016 Code; Ord. 2018-6, 11-5-2018)