(A) Speed regulations.
(1) General speed restrictions. No snowmobile may be driven upon any roadway within the corporate limits of this village at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or endangers the safety of any person or property. The fact that the speed of the snowmobile does not exceed the applicable maximum speed limit does not relieve the driver of the snowmobile from the duty to decrease speed when approaching and crossing an intersection, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or when special hazards exist with the 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 highway in compliance with legal requirements and a duty of all persons to use due care.
(2) Maximum speed limits. Unless some other speed restriction is established by the posting of speed limit signs under the authority of the Village Board, the maximum speed limits for snowmobiles within the corporate limits are as follows:
(a) 30 mph in any residential or business district;
(b) 15 mph in any alley; and
(c) 20 mph while passing through any school zone, properly posted.
(3) Minimum speed regulation. No person shall drive a snowmobile at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation of his or her snowmobile or in compliance with the direction of a peace officer.
(B) Reckless driving. Any person who drives any snowmobile with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of person or property is guilty of reckless driving.
(C) Racing. No person shall engage in any race on any roadway within the corporate limits. RACE means the act of two or more individuals competing or racing on any street or highway, in a situation in which one of the snowmobiles is beside or to the rear of a snowmobile operated by a competing driver and the one driver attempts to prevent the competing driver from passing or overtaking him or her, either by acceleration or maneuver, or one or more individuals competing in a race against time on any street or roadway in this municipality.
(D) Driving on the right side of roadway. Snowmobiles shall be operated on all roadways as close to the right-hand side of the roadway as possible. Snowmobiles proceeding in opposite directions shall pass each other to the right and upon roadways having width for not more than one line of traffic in each direction, each driver shall pass the other at least one-half length of the main traveled portion of the roadway as nearly as possible.
(E) Limitations on overtaking on the left. No snowmobiles shall be driven to the left side of the center of the roadway in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless such left side is clearly visible and is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction or any vehicle overtaken.
(F) Additional limitations on driving to the left of center of the roadway. No snowmobile shall be driven on the left of the roadway when approaching or upon the crest of a grade or curve in the highway where the driver’s view is obstructed, when approaching within 100 feet of any bridge, viaduct, or tunnel, and no driver may pass to the left where signs or markings are in place to define a no passing zone as indicated by pavement striping or appropriate signing.
(G) Following too close. The operator of a snowmobile shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and condition of the highway.
(H) Starting a parked snowmobile. No operator shall start a snowmobile which is stopped, standing, or parked unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.
(I) Signals required. A signal of intention to turn right or left when required must be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the snowmobile before turning within a business or residential district. Any stop or turn signal when required shall be given either by means of a hand and arm or by electric turn signal device conforming to the requirements of 625 ILCS 40/6-1.
(J) Method of giving hand and arm signals. All signals required by this traffic code shall be given from the left side of the vehicle in the following manners:
(1) Left turn. Hand and arm extended horizontally;
(2) Right turn. Hand and arm extended upward; and
(3) Stop or decrease of speed. Hand and arm pivoted downward at 90-degree angle.
(K) Right-of-way. Any snowmobile approaching or entering an intersection from a different roadway shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle on the opposite roadway which is entering from the right at approximately the same time. The driver of the vehicle or snowmobile on the left must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.
(L) Right-of-way turning left. The operator of a snowmobile intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard, but said snowmobile operator having so yielded may proceed at such time as a safe interval occurs.
(M) Snowmobiles entering intersections.
(1) Stop intersections.
(a) Except when directed to proceed by a peace officer or traffic control signal, every operator of a snowmobile approaching a stop intersection indicated by a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the operator has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection.
(b) After having stopped, the operator of the snowmobile shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which has entered the intersection from another roadway or which is approaching so closely on the roadway as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the operator is moving across or within the intersection, but said operator having so yielded may proceed at such time as a safe interval occurs.
(2) Yield intersections.
(a) The operator of a snowmobile approaching a yield sign shall, in obedience to such signs, slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and if required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the operator has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway.
(b) After slowing or stopping, the operator shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such operator is moving across or within the intersection. If a snowmobile is involved in a collision at an intersection or interferes with the movement of other vehicles after driving past the yield right-of-way sign, such collision or interference shall be deemed prima facie evidence of the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way.
(N) Obedience to traffic control devices.
(1) The operator of any snowmobile shall obey the instruction of any official traffic control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this traffic code and it shall be unlawful for any snowmobile operator to leave the roadway and travel across private property to avoid an official traffic control device.
(2) Snowmobile traffic facing a steady red signal at an automatic traffic control device must stop at a clearly marked stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is indicated by a green traffic control signal.
(O) Accidents. Operators of snowmobiles involved in any accident with another snowmobile or any other motor vehicle or pedestrian shall make accident reports in accordance with the provisions of the State Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act, Ill. Rev. Stat. Ch. 95-1/2, Art. VI, § 606-1.
(P) Pedestrian right-of-way. The operator of all snowmobiles shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down, or stopping if need be to so yield to a pedestrian crossing a roadway within a crosswalk, but in any case every driver of a snowmobile shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child obviously confused, incapacitated, or an intoxicated person.
(Q) Alcohol.
(1) Persons under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs. No person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor may drive or be in actual physical control of any snowmobile within this municipality, and further no person who is an habitual user of, or under the influence of any narcotic drug, or who is under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving a snowmobile may drive or be in actual physical control of any snowmobile within this corporate limits.
(2) Alcohol prohibited. No person shall consume any alcoholic liquor while operating a snowmobile within this municipality and any alcoholic liquor transported in a snowmobile shall be in its original package and with the seal unbroken.
(R) Obstruction of operator’s view of driving mechanism. No person shall operate a snowmobile when it is loaded with passengers as to obstruct the operator’s view of his or her operation of the driving mechanism.
(S) Obstructing roadways. No operator shall willfully or unnecessarily hinder, obstruct, delay, or attempt to delay, hinder, or obstruct any other person lawfully driving or traveling along or upon any roadway within the corporate limits.
(T) Horns and warning devices. No snowmobile shall be equipped with any siren, whistle, or bell.
(U) Driver’s license required. No person shall operate a snowmobile within the municipality on any roadway unless he or she is in possession of a valid operator’s license issued by the state or is a resident of another state and possesses a valid operator’s license from that state.
(V) Firearm. No person, except persons permitted by law, shall operate or ride any snowmobile with any firearm in his or her possession unless it is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case, or any bow unless it is in a carrying case, or rendered inoperable.
(W) State highway. Any person may operate a snowmobile on any state highway within the limits of the municipality, except on State Route 36, at a 90-degree angle yielding to all traffic and crossing only when it is safe to do so.
(Ord. passed - -) Penalty, see § 73.99