Authorized non-highway vehicles may be operated on streets within the City, but only in strict compliance with the following rules and regulations:
A. Any person who operates a non-highway vehicle in the City takes full responsibility for all liability associated with operating the non-highway vehicle.
B Any person who operates a non-highway vehicle must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and possess a valid driver's license.
C. Any person who operates a non-highway vehicle must possess proof of liability insurance for personal injury and property damage with limits of liability not less than the minimum required by the State of Illinois for passenger vehicles pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/7-203. Evidence of insurance, in the form of an insurance card as prescribed in 625 ILCS 5/7-602, must be surrendered to any officer of the City Police Department or any other Law Enforcement Agency for inspection upon request.
D. A non-highway vehicle shall have its headlights and tail lamps lighted at all times when operated on City streets as required by 6 25 ILCS 5/12-201.
E. Non-highway vehicles may not be operated in unsafe weather conditions or when visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions or at any time when there is insufficient light to see persons and vehicles on the streets at a distance of five hundred (500) feet. City Police Officers shall have full discretion in determining whether unsafe conditions from weather, smoke, fog or insufficient lighting exist.
F. Non-Highway vehicles may not be operated at a speed of greater than twenty (20) miles per hour. Non-highway vehicles may not be operated on City streets which have a posted speed limit of more than thirty-five (35) miles per hour. This section does not prohibit non-highway vehicles from crossing a street at the intersection where the street has a posted speed limit of more than thirty-five (35) miles per hour. No person operating a non-highway vehicle shall make a direct crossing upon or across any tollroad, interstate highway, or controlled access highway in this State. No person operating a non-highway vehicle shall make a direct crossing upon or across any other highway under the jurisdiction of the State, except at an intersection of the highway with another public street, road, or highway.
G. Non-highway vehicles must be equipped with the following equipment, which shall professionally manufactured and installed, and must conform with Illinois Department of Transportation specifications:
1. Seat belts;
2. A horn;
3. Brakes;
4. A steering apparatus;
5. Tires;
6. A review mirror;
7. Front and rear red reflectorized warning devices;
8. A slow-moving vehicle emblem on the rear in conformity with 625 ILCS 5/12-709;
9. A head light that emits a white light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front in daylight;
10. A tail lamp that emits a red light visible from at least one hundred (100) feet from the rear in daylight, brakes lights and turn signals;
11. A windshield;
12. An adequate muffler or exhaust system in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise. No such muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device. No person shall modify the exhaust system of a non-highway vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle.
H. Any person who operates or is in actual physical control of a non-highway vehicle within the City must adhere to all applicable laws of the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/1, et seq.
I. Non-highway vehicle drivers must yield the right-of-way to overtaking vehicles at all times.
J. The maximum occupancy of non-highway vehicles traveling on City streets will be one person per bucket seat and not more than two (2) persons per bench seat. No person under the age of eight (8) years shall be a passenger in a non-highway vehicle.
K. All persons operating and riding in non-highway vehicles must be properly seated and seat belted while the non-highway vehicle is in motion.
L. Except as otherwise permitted under the terms of the Chapter, non- highway vehicles may only be operated between one-half hour prior to sunrise and ten o’clock (10:00) p.m.
M. Non-highway vehicles shall not park in handicapped parking spaces unless the driver or at least one passenger has at least one valid handicapped parking permit issued by the Illinois Secretary of State.
N. Non-highway vehicles may not be operated on sidewalks or other public or private property not accessible to or authorized to vehicular traffic, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter. (Ord. 1518, 8-3-2020; amd. Ord. 1551, 6-28-2022)