It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a neighborhood fuel-powered or electric vehicle on any street or roadway within the city, except as expressly authorized in this section.
(A) NEIGHBORHOOD VEHICLE (ANV@) means a self-propelled, electronically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle (or a self-propelled, internal combustion engine fuel-powered four-wheeled motor vehicle with an engine displacement under 1,200 cubic centimeters) which is capable of attaining in one mile a speed of more than 20 miles per hour, but not more than 25 miles per hour, which meets the minimum equipment standards as are hereinafter provided, and which conforms to the federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R. Part 571.500.
(B) An NV, after first being registered with the city as hereinafter provided, may be operated only on streets within the city where the posted speed is 35 miles per hour or less; however, an NV may cross a street at an intersection where the street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. No person operating a NV 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.
(C) No neighborhood vehicle may be operated on a roadway unless, at a minimum, it has the following: brakes, a steering apparatus, tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices in the front and rear, a slow moving emblem (as required of other vehicles in ILCS Ch. 625, Act. 5, § 12-709 of the Illinois Vehicle Code) on the rear of the neighborhood vehicle, a headlight that emits a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front, a tail lamp that emits a red light visible from at least 100 feet from the rear, brake lights and turn signals. When operated on a roadway, a neighborhood vehicle shall have its headlights and tail lamps lighted as required by ILCS Ch. 625, Act. 5, § 12-201 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
(D) An NV shall be insured pursuant to ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5, §§ 7-601 et seq. which mandates that vehicles operated on public roads be covered by a liability insurance policy.
(E) Further, an NV shall have a windshield of AS-1 or AS-5 composition, that conforms to the American National Standard Institute’s “Safety Code for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operating on Land Highways.” Z-26.1 B 1977, January 28, 1977, as supplemented by Z-26.la, July 3,1980. Additionally, an NV shall have a VIN that conforms to the requirements of part 565 Vehicle Identification Number of Chapter V, Title 49 of the C.F.R. An NV must also be equipped with a Type 1 or Type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to § 571.209 of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 209, seat belt assemblies, installed at each designated seating position.
(F) Any person who drives or is in actual physical control of a neighborhood vehicle or a street or roadway while under the influence of any intoxicating substance is subject to ILCS Ch. 65, Act 5, §§ 11 -500 through 11-502 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
(G) Any person who intends to operate an NV within the city shall register the NV with and obtain from the City Clerk or his or her designee, an annual NV permit, for a fee of $50, which shall be valid for the calendar year in which it was issued. The permit shall be visibly displayed on the windshield of the vehicle. Prior to issuance of such NV permit, the Chief of Police or his or her designee shall determine whether the NV meets the minimum equipment standards as set forth herein above.
(H) Any and all operators of an NV must comply with all requirements of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
(I) Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the operation of an NV by persons other than fully licensed operators or upon any street or public way or surface other than as expressly permitted herein.
(Ord. 1395, passed 2-3-09; Am. Ord. 1398, passed 3-3-09; Am. Ord. 1631, passed 4-16-19) Penalty, see § 10.99