(A) Annual license required; fee; exemptions.
(1) Each owner of a motor vehicle who resides within the city, or whose vehicle has its situs or base within the city, shall annually purchase a license for such vehicle and pay to the city an annual license fee.
(2) (a) The United States, the state, units of local government and school districts created under the laws of the state shall be exempt from the requirement to obtain an annual license and pay the annual license fee for all vehicles owned by said public bodies and used exclusively for the public purposes of said public body.
(b) Owners of “commercial motor vehicles”, as defined in 625 ILCS 5/18b-101, that are registered under 625 ILCS 5/3-402.1 shall be exempt from the requirement to obtain an annual license and pay the annual license fee.
(B) Use of licensed vehicle.
(1) No person shall use, or cause or permit any agents or employees to use, any motor vehicle whose owner resides within the city, or whose situs or base is within the city, upon the public streets or highways in the city unless such vehicle is licensed.
(2) Leased or rented vehicles may be registered in the name of the owner or custodian of the vehicle, and if such vehicle is in custody of the resident of the city assigned its total use, that person shall be required to register/license such vehicle in accordance herewith.
(3) It shall constitute prima facie evidence that a motor vehicle is operated upon the public streets or highways within the city when the motor vehicle is registered with the Secretary of State of the state to a named person at an address within the city boundaries or when the motor vehicle has its situs or base within the city.
(C) Situs or base. A motor vehicle has its situs or base where it is principally garaged or from whence it is principally dispatched or where the movement of such vehicle usually originates.
(D) Commercial vehicles.
(1) No commercial vehicle shall be parked in the city for any length of time unless a current vehicle license sticker is affixed to its front windshield from the city, except if the owner or operator of the vehicle is actively engaged in performing a service at a residence or business within the city boundaries.
(2) All commercial vehicles not actively engaged in providing a service within the city may be licensed in the name of the vehicle’s actual owner or in the name of the person in the city or entity who is the custodian of the vehicle.
(Prior Code, § 73.03) (Ord. 99-252, passed 4-27-1999; Ord. 2016-001, passed 1-12-2016; Ord. 2020-036, passed 9-22-2020; Ord. 2022-033, passed 4-26-2022) Penalty, see § 73.99