A. Definitions: The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Subsection shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this Subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ACCESS-CONTROLLE D HIGHWAY: Every highway, street or roadway 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 and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway.
ACT: The Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act (625 ILCS 40/1-1 et seq.), including amendments thereto.
CHIEF OF POLICE: The chief of police of the village or his or her designee.
DEPARTMENT: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
HIGHWAY: The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
INTERSTATE HIGHWAY: Any highway which now is, or shall hereafter be, a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways within Illinois.
OPERATE: To ride in or on, other than as a passenger, use or control the operation of a snowmobile in any manner, whether or not the snowmobile is under way.
OPERATOR: Every person who operates or is in actual physical control of a snowmobile.
OWNER: A person, other than a lien holder, having title to a snowmobile. The term includes a person entitled to the use or possess a snowmobile subject to an interest in another person, reserved or created by agreement and securing payment or performance of an obligation, but the term excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as security.
ROADWAY: That portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways the term "roadway" refers to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.
SNOWMOBILE: A self-propelled device designed for travel on snow or ice or natural terrain steered by skis or runners, and supported in part by skis, belts, or cleats.
WILDLIFE: The meaning set forth in Section 1.2t of the Wildlife Code (520 ILCS 5/1.2t).
B. Inspections: police officers of the village may stop and inspect any snowmobile operating within the village at any time for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this Section or the Act.
C. General Operation Regulations: It is lawful for any person to drive or operate a snowmobile within the village on a marked trail approved by the appropriate governing authority; provided the snowmobile shall be operated in accordance with this Section and/or the rules and regulations established by the Department. It is unlawful for any person to drive or operate any snowmobile in the following ways:
1. At a rate of speed too fast for conditions. The fact that the speed of the snowmobile does not exceed the applicable maximum speed limit allowed does not relieve the operator from the duty to decrease speed as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or object within legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.
2. In a careless, reckless, or negligent manner. For purposes of this Subsection, careless, reckless or negligent manner includes, without limitation:
a. Driving on public school grounds, parks, playgrounds, recreational areas or other public open spaces without written permission from the proper public authority to do so;
b. Driving in a manner to create loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise in a manner that disturbs or interferes with the peace;
c. Driving in a negligent manner so as to endanger the safety of any person or the property of another;
d. Driving on or across any public sidewalk without written permission from the proper authority to do so; and
e. Driving on or within the right of way of any public road, street, or highway without written permission from the proper public authority to do so, unless otherwise allowed in Subsection D.
3. At any time without at least one (1) lighted headlamp and one (1) lighted tail lamp on the snowmobile.
4. Within any nature preserve.
5. On the tracks or right of way of an operating railroad.
6. In any tree nursery or planting in a manner which damages or destroys growing stock or creates a substantial risk thereto.
7. On private property, without the written consent of the owner or lessee thereof. Any person operating a snowmobile upon private property of another shall stop and identify himself upon the request of the landowner or his duly authorized representative and, if requested to do so by the landowner, shall promptly remove the snowmobile from the premises.
D. Operation on Highways: It is unlawful for any person to drive or operate any snowmobile on a highway in the village except as follows:
1. On highways other than interstate highways and fully or limited access-controlled highways snowmobiles may make a direct crossing provided:
a. The crossing is made at an angle of approximately ninety degrees (90º) to the direction of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing;
b. The snowmobile is brought to a complete stop before crossing a roadway; and
c. The operator yields the right of way to all oncoming traffic which constitutes a hazard.
2. On highways other than interstate highways and fully or limited access-controlled highways snowmobiles may be operated on roadways when it is necessary to cross a bridge or culvert or when it is impracticable to gain immediate access to an area adjacent to a highway where a snowmobile is to be operated.
3. The chief of police has the ability to designate public highways or streets within the village's jurisdiction as egress and ingress routes for the use of snowmobiles. The village shall erect and maintain signs giving proper notice of such ingress and egress routes.
E. Other Prohibitions:
1. No person, except persons permitted by law, shall operate or ride any snowmobile with any firearm in his possession unless it is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case, or any bow unless it is unstrung in a carrying case.
2. No person shall operate any snowmobile emitting pollutants in accordance with standards established pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/1 et seq.).
3. No person shall deposit from a snowmobile on the snow, ice or ground surface, trash, glass, garbage, insoluble material or other offensive matter.
4. No person shall use a snowmobile to take, pursue or intentionally harass or disturb wildlife, except such restriction shall not apply to any person acting to protect livestock from predatory animals.
5. A person may not operate a snowmobile within the village during any period when his or her privilege to operate a snowmobile is suspended or revoked in this state or by another state, a federal agency or by a province of Canada.
F. Youthful Operators:
1. No person under ten (10) years of age may operate a snowmobile in the village, other than machines designed for use by small children primarily as a toy and used only on private property and not on any public use trail.
2. Persons at least ten (10) and less than twelve (12) years of age may operate a snowmobile in the village only if they are either accompanied on the snowmobile by a parent or guardian or a person at least eighteen (18) years of age designated by a parent or guardian.
3. Persons at least twelve (12) and less than sixteen (16) years of age may operate a snowmobile in the village only if they are either accompanied on the snowmobile by a parent or guardian or a person at least sixteen (16) years of age designated by a parent or guardian, or such operator is in possession of a certificate issued by the Department authorizing the holder to operate snowmobiles.
4. Any person who operates a snowmobile on a highway within the village as provided in Subsection D shall:
a. Possess a valid motor vehicle driver's license; or
b. Possess a safety certificate issued by the Department.
Any such person less than sixteen (16) years of age shall also be under the immediate supervision of a parent or guardian or a person at least eighteen (18) years of age designated by the parent or guardian.
G. Equipment: All snowmobiles operating within the village shall be equipped as set forth in Section 4-1 of the Act (625 ILCS 40/4-1).
H. Registration and Insurance: Any snowmobile operated in the village shall be registered and covered by a liability insurance policy in accordance with the provisions of Article III of the Act.
I. Penalty: Any person or entity violating any provision of this Section 7-1-6 shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) on the first offense and two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each subsequent offense. In addition, police officers of the village may seize and impound, at the owner's expense, any snowmobile involved in an accident or otherwise authorized pursuant to the provisions of the Act.
J. Exceptions:
1. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to prohibit the village from designating a special snowmobile event after approval by the Chief of Police.
2. The prohibitions in this Section shall not apply to snowmobiles used by law enforcement, fire departments, public utilities or other governmental entities while carrying out their duties.
3. Snowmobile trails within the village shall be used for access to and from adjacent trails and there shall be no stopping or congregating upon said trails. Only those public right of ways or parts thereof, designated as snowmobiles trails shall be used for the operation of snowmobiles in the village and, except as set forth in Subsection D, no snowmobile shall be operated on any other street within the village.
4. Snowmobiles used only on international or national competition circuits in events for which written permission has been obtained from the village by the sponsoring or sanctioning body are exempt from the provisions of this Section.
5. The chief of police shall have the authority to grant written exceptions to this Section as is deemed necessary by the chief of police in his or her sole discretion. (Ord. 24-03-17, 3-15-2024)