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Municipal Code of Chicago
MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO
TITLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE 2 CITY GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
TITLE 3 REVENUE AND FINANCE
TITLE 4 BUSINESSES, OCCUPATIONS AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
TITLE 5 HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TITLE 6 HUMAN RIGHTS*
TITLE 7 HEALTH AND SAFETY
TITLE 8 OFFENSES AFFECTING PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND WELFARE
TITLE 9 VEHICLES, TRAFFIC AND RAIL TRANSPORTATION
CHAPTER 9-4 TRAFFIC DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 9-8 TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES AND SIGNALS
CHAPTER 9-12 TRAFFIC AND SPEED RESTRICTIONS
CHAPTER 9-16 TURNING MOVEMENTS
CHAPTER 9-20 MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC
CHAPTER 9-24 RIGHT-OF-WAY
CHAPTER 9-28 RAILROAD AND BRIDGE CROSSINGS
CHAPTER 9-32 FUNERAL PROCESSIONS
CHAPTER 9-36 OVERTAKING VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9-40 DRIVING RULES
CHAPTER 9-44 TOWING DISABLED VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9-48 TYPES OF VEHICLES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 9-52 BICYCLES - OPERATION
CHAPTER 9-56 REPORTING OF CRASHES*
CHAPTER 9-60 PEDESTRIANS' RIGHTS AND DUTIES
CHAPTER 9-64 PARKING REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 9-68 RESTRICTED PARKING - PERMITS AND REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 9-72 SIZE AND WEIGHT LIMITS
CHAPTER 9-76 VEHICLE EQUIPMENT
CHAPTER 9-80 MISCELLANEOUS RULES
CHAPTER 9-84 TOWING UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9-88 DUTIES OF POLICE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER 9-92 IMPOUNDING AND RELOCATION OF VEHICLES
CHAPTER 9-96 RESERVED*
CHAPTER 9-100 ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION OF PARKING, COMPLIANCE VIOLATIONS, AUTOMATED TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM OR AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM VIOLATIONS
CHAPTER 9-101 AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM
CHAPTER 9-102 AUTOMATED TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM
CHAPTER 9-103 SCOOTER SHARING*
CHAPTER 9-104 PUBLIC CHAUFFEURS*
CHAPTER 9-105 AUTOMATED STREET SWEEPER CAMERA PROGRAM
CHAPTER 9-108 SMART STREETS PILOT PROGRAM*
CHAPTER 9-110 PEDICABS
CHAPTER 9-112 TAXICABS
CHAPTER 9-114 PUBLIC PASSENGER VEHICLES OTHER THAN TAXICABS
CHAPTER 9-115 TRANSPORTATION NETWORK PROVIDERS
CHAPTER 9-116 TRAFFIC CRASH REVIEW AND ANALYSIS*
CHAPTER 9-120 BICYCLES
CHAPTER 9-124 TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND RAIL TRANSPORTATION
TITLE 10 STREETS, PUBLIC WAYS, PARKS, AIRPORTS AND HARBORS
TITLE 11 UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
TITLE 12 RESERVED
TITLE 13 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
TITLE 14 RESERVED*
TITLE 14A ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS OF THE CHICAGO CONSTRUCTION CODES*
TITLE 14B BUILDING CODE*
TITLE 14C CONVEYANCE DEVICE CODE*
TITLE 14E ELECTRICAL CODE*
TITLE 14F FIRE PREVENTION CODE*
TITLE 14G FUEL GAS CODE*
TITLE 14M MECHANICAL CODE*
TITLE 14N 2022 ENERGY TRANSFORMATION CODE*
TITLE 14P PLUMBING CODE*
TITLE 14R BUILDING REHABILITATION CODE*
TITLE 14X MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS*
TITLE 15 FIRE PREVENTION
TITLE 16 LAND USE
TITLE 17 CHICAGO ZONING ORDINANCE
TITLE 18 BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE
APPENDIX TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF CHICAGO (RESERVED)*
TABLES
Chicago Zoning Ordinance and Land Use Ordinance
CHAPTER 9-12
TRAFFIC AND SPEED RESTRICTIONS
9-12-010   Driving from or onto controlled-access highway.
9-12-020   Nonmotorized traffic on controlled- access highway.
9-12-030   Toll bridges and highways.
9-12-040   Play streets.
9-12-045   Shared street program.
9-12-050   Traffic lanes.
9-12-060   Bus lanes.
9-12-070   Speed limits.
9-12-075   School safety zones.
9-12-077   Park and playground safety zones.
9-12-080   Minimum speed regulations.
9-12-090   Drag racing.
9-12-095   Authority to impound vehicles previously used in a drag racing violation.
9-12-100   Drifting.
9-12-105   Authority to impound vehicles previously used in a drifting violation.
9-12-110   Non-highway vehicles.
9-12-010 Driving from or onto controlled-access highway.
   No person shall drive a vehicle onto or from the roadway of any controlled-access highway except at such entrances and exits as are established by public authority.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634)
9-12-020 Nonmotorized traffic on controlled- access highway.
   (a)   The commissioner of transportation and the executive director of emergency management and communications with respect to any controlled-access highway under the city's jurisdiction may prohibit the use of any such highway by pedestrians, bicycles, or other non-motorized traffic or by any person operating a motor-driven cycle. The commissioner shall erect and maintain official signs on the controlled-access highway on which such prohibitions are applicable.
   (b)   When official signs have been erected on any controlled-access highway prohibiting the use of the roadway by pedestrians, bicycles, or other nonmotorized traffic or by any person operating a motor-driven cycle, no person shall disobey the restrictions stated on such signs.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10832; Amend Coun. J. 12-7-05, p. 64870, § 1.9)
9-12-030 Toll bridges and highways.
   On a toll bridge or toll highway, use of which requires the payment of a predetermined toll, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any motor vehicle to use such bridge or highway without payment of the required fee(s). Any person who violates this provision shall be fined $25.00.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 11-5-08, p. 43682, § 1)
9-12-040 Play streets.
   (a)   The commissioner of transportation, subject to the approval of the city council, may designate certain streets or parts of streets, other than main thoroughfares, as play streets to be devoted to recreational purposes for children, under proper regulation and supervision. Such designation shall describe the street or part of the street to be used for such purpose, the hours of the day and the days of the week when it shall be roped off, and such other directions as he may deem necessary for the protection of the children and of the public. In preparing his recommendations, the commissioner shall give preference to neighborhoods where recreation space and playground facilities are not otherwise available, and such streets or parts of streets on which vehicular traffic is light shall be selected. It shall be the duty of the heads of the several departments of the city government to render such assistance in the administration of the play street system as shall be necessary to insure safety to the children using same.
   (b)   During the hours that any play street is in use for recreation, the roadway thereof shall be closed to vehicular traffic by removable barriers. Such barriers shall be kept in place until the close of the period of recreation each day that it is to be used and shall then be removed.
   (c)   Whenever authorized barriers are erected indicating any street or part thereof as a play street, no person shall drive a vehicle upon such street or part thereof except drivers having business or whose residences are within such closed area, and each such driver shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any such street or portion thereof.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10832)
9-12-045 Shared street program.
   (a)   Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
   "Shared street program" means the shared street program established pursuant to this section.
   "Shared street" means a public right-of-way which can be shared at the same time by pedestrians, bicyclists, motor vehicles and other legal conveyances, and where pedestrians have the right-of-way over all other traffic.
   (b)   Authorization. The commissioner is authorized to establish a shared street program on the following roadway:
 
Roadway
Segment
Coordinates
From
To
From
To
Argyle Street
Broadway
Sheridan Road
1200 W
1000 W
 
   (c)   Rules. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the following rules shall apply in a shared street:
      (1)   Pedestrians may enter, walk along or cross a shared street at any time or point. Nothing provided in this subsection shall relieve a pedestrian from the duty of exercising due care.
      (2)   Pedestrians entering or within a shared street shall have the right-of-way over vehicles, bicycles or other traffic. The operator of a vehicle shall stop and yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian within a shared street when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.
      (3)   The operator of a vehicle or bicyclist approaching an intersection within a shared street shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle or bicycle which has entered the intersection from a different roadway.
      (4)   Subject to Section 9-24-020, when two vehicles or bicycles enter an intersection from different streets at approximately the same time, the operator of the vehicle or bicyclist on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle or bicyclist on the right.
   (d)   Signs and markings. The commissioner is authorized to add or remove signs and markings, as needed, within or near a shared street in order to implement the shared street program. All traffic-control signs and markings shall conform to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
(Added Coun. J. 7-20-16, p. 28867, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-16-19, p. 7300, § 1)
9-12-050 Traffic lanes.
   (a)   The commissioner of transportation, subject to the review and approval of the executive director of emergency management and communications where appropriate, is hereby authorized to mark traffic lanes upon the roadway where in his judgment a regular alignment of traffic is necessary.
   (b)   Where traffic lanes have been marked to preserve a regular alignment of traffic, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to fail or refuse to keep his vehicle within the designated boundaries of any such lane except when lawfully passing another vehicle.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10832; Amend Coun. J. 12-7-05, p. 64870, § 1.9)
9-12-060 Bus lanes.
   (a)   The commissioner of transportation, subject to the review and approval of the executive director of emergency management and communications, is hereby authorized to designate portions of the roadway as bus lanes where in his judgment a separation of traffic is necessary to expedite the flow of traffic and shall indicate such designated lanes and the type of bus authorized to use them with appropriate signs or markings.
   (b)   When a bus lane is designated and indicated by appropriate signs or markings, it shall be unlawful for any vehicle other than an authorized bus or a vehicle servicing a bus to enter or use such lane, except when making a right hand turn, or to access a driveway or other allowable curbside parking or loading location.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10832; Amend Coun. J. 7-29-03, p. 6166, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 12-7-05, p. 64870, § 1.9; Amend Coun. J. 4-15-15, p. 106130, § 8)
9-12-070 Speed limits.
   (a)   The provisions of Section 11-601 of the Illinois Vehicle Code shall be applicable on all streets within and under the jurisdiction of the city. The absolute statutory urban speed limit shall be 30 miles per hour in streets and 15 miles per hour in alleys. The absolute statutory nonurban speed limit shall be 55 miles per hour. In addition to any fines or other penalties provided by statute or by this Code, any person found operating a vehicle in excess of the limits stated herein shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200.00 nor more than $300.00 for the first offense, and not less than $300.00 nor more than $500.00 for the second offense, and not less than $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00 for the third and each subsequent offense within a given three-year period. A person violating this section shall also be subject to the community service requirements imposed by Section 1-4-120 of the Code. A person whose violation of this section results in a fatality may be subject to the imposition of felony charges by the state's attorney.
   (b)   Where the commissioner of transportation has determined on the basis of an engineering or traffic investigation that the statutory speed limits are greater or less than is reasonable or safe with respect to the conditions found to exist along any part of any roadway, the urban speed limits may be increased, but not in excess of 55 miles per hour, and may be diminished, but not to less than 20 miles per hour, and the nonurban speed limit may be diminished, but not to less than 35 miles per hour, when such determination is approved by an ordinance of the city council. Such ordinance altering speed limits shall be enforceable when appropriate signs giving notice of the limit are erected at the proper places along the affected roadway or highway or part thereof.
(Added Coun. J. 7-12-90, p. 18634; Amend Coun. J. 12-11-91, p. 10832; Amend Coun. J. 10-28-97, p. 54842; Amend Coun. J. 11-19-97, p. 57859; Amend Coun. J. 11-6-02, p. 96501, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-4-02, p. 100729, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 4-26-06, p. 75398, § 1)
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