(A) Required equipment.
(1) Every motor vehicle, other than a motor-driven cycle and an antique vehicle displaying an antique plate, when operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the vehicle, including two separate means of applying the brakes, each of which means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least one wheel on a motorcycle and at least two wheels on all other first division and second division vehicles. If these two separate means of applying the brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes.
(2) Every motor-driven cycle, when operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with at least one brake, which may be operated by hand or foot.
(3) Every antique vehicle shall be equipped with the brakes of the same type originally installed by the manufacturer as original equipment and in working order.
(4) Every trailer or semitrailer of a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more, when operated upon a highway, must be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of, to stop and to hold the vehicle and designed so as to be operable by the driver of the towing vehicle from its cab. The brakes must be so designed and connected that in case of an accidental break-away of a towed vehicle 5,000 pounds or more, the brakes are automatically applied.
(5) Every motor vehicle, trailer, pole trailer or semi-trailer, sold in the state or operated upon the highways, shall be equipped with service brakes upon all wheels of every such vehicle, except any motor- driven cycle, and except that any trailer, pole trailer or semitrailer of less than 3,000 pounds gross weight need not be equipped with brakes and except that any trailer or semi-trailer with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds but less than 5,000 pounds need be equipped with brakes on only one wheel on each side of the vehicle.
(a) Any motor vehicle and truck tractor having three or more axles need not have brakes on the front wheels, except when the vehicles are equipped with at least two steerable axles, the wheels of one such axle need not be equipped with brakes.
(b) A vehicle that is more than 30 years of age and which is driven on the highways only in going to and returning from an antique auto show or for servicing or for a demonstration need be equipped with two-wheel brakes only.
(B) Performance ability of brakes.
(1) The service brakes upon any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles operating on a level surface shall be adequate to stop the vehicle when traveling 20 mph within a distance of 30 feet when upon dry asphalt or concrete pavement surface free from loose material.
(2) Under the above conditions the hand brake shall be adequate to stop the vehicle or vehicles, except any motorcycle, within a distance of 55 feet and the hand brake shall be adequate to hold the vehicle stationary on any grade upon which operated.
(3) Under the above conditions the service brakes upon an antique vehicle shall be adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of 40 feet and the hand brake adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of 55 feet.
(4) All braking distances specified in this section apply to all vehicles mentioned, whether the vehicles are unloaded or are loaded to the maximum capacity permitted under ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5.
(5) All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be adjusted so as to operate as equally as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.
('73 Code, § 21-238) (Ord. 62-610, passed 10-1-62) Penalty, see § 70.999