(A) General speed restrictions. No snowmobile may be driven upon any roadway within the corporate limits of this community and 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 and going around the curve, when approaching a hillcrest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or special hazards exist with 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.
(B) General speed limit. Unless some other speed restriction is established by the posting of speed limit signs under the authority of the City Council, the maximum speed limits for snowmobiles within the corporate limits shall be 25 miles per hour in any residential or business district.
(C) Reckless driving. Any person who drives any snowmobile with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.
(D) 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, either by acceleration or maneuver or one or more individuals competing in a race against time on any street or roadway in this municipality.
(E) Minimum speed regulation. No person shall drive a snowmobile at such a low speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation of his snowmobile or in compliance with the direction of a peace officer.
(F) Driving on 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 give to the other at least one-half of the main traveled portion of the roadway as nearly as possible.
(G) 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.
(H) Additional limitations of driving to the left of center of the roadway. No snowmobile shall be driven on the left side 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 or traversing an intersection or railroad grade crossing, or when the view is obstructed upon 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.
(I) 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.
(J) Starting 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.
(K) 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 residence district.
(L) Signal by hand or arm or signal device. 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 ILCS Chapter 625.
(M) Method of giving hand and arm signals. All signals required to this subchapter shall be given from the left side of the vehicle in the following manner:
(1) Left turn - hand and arm extended horizontally.
(2) Right turn - hand and arm extended upward.
(3) Stop or decrease of speed - hand and arm extended downward.
(N) 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.
(O) 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.
(P) Snowmobile entering stop intersection. 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, 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 before entering the intersection. 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.
(Q) Snowmobile entering a yield intersection. 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. 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.
(R) Obedience to traffic-control devices.
(1) The operator of any snowmobile shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter 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 clearly marked stop line, but if none, 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 light.
(S) 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 Illinois State Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act, ILCS Ch. 625, Act 40, § 6-1.
(T) 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 give warning by sounding the horn when necessary and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused, incapacitated or intoxicated person.
(U) Obstruction of operator's view or driving mechanism. No person shall operate a snowmobile when it is so loaded with passengers as to obstruct the operator's view or his operation of the driving mechanism.
(V) Obstructing roadways. No operator shall willfully or unnecessarily hinder, obstruct or delay or attempt to delay, hinder or obstruct any other person lawfully driving or traveling along or upon any roadway within the corporate limits.
(W) Horns and warning devices. All snowmobiles when operated upon a roadway in this municipality shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonable loud or harsh sound or a whistle. No snowmobile shall be equipped with any siren, whistle or bell.
(X) Reserved.
(Y) Operation of snowmobile on state highway. No person may operate a snowmobile on any state highway within the limits of the municipality, except to cross the state highway at a 90° angle yielding to all traffic and crossing only when it is safe to do so.
(Z) Operation of snowmobile on certain streets prohibited. No person may operate a snowmobile upon any street or area as set forth in Chapter 77, Sch. VI.
(AA) Operation of snowmobile on any street, road or other public way. No person shall operate a snowmobile upon any street, road, or other public way permitted by this subchapter except for the purpose of traveling to or from the designated “Snowmobile Trail” as provided herein.
(BB) “Snowmobile Trail” adopted by reference. That attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference is the “Snowmobile Trail” of the city, which trail shall be used exclusively for the operation of snowmobiles traveling to or from the city, or to or from the Illinois-Michigan Canal.
(Ord. 678, passed 12-19-84; Am. Ord. 1554, passed 6-18-14) Penalty, see § 70.99