For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALLEY. A public way within a block, generally giving access to the rear of lots or buildings, and not used for general traffic circulation.
(625 ILCS 5/1-102)
ARTERIAL STREET. Any U.S. or state numbered route, controlled-access highway, or other major radial or circumferential street or highway designated by local authorities within their respective jurisdictions as part of a major arterial system of streets or highways.
(70 ILCS 1205/3-9)
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Emergency vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by proper local authorities; police vehicles; vehicles of the Fire Department; vehicles of a HazMat or technical rescue team authorized by a county board under § 5-1127 of the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/5-1127); ambulances; vehicles of the Illinois Department of Corrections; vehicles of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice; vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency; vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal; mine rescue and explosives emergency response vehicles of the Department of Natural Resources; vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public Health; vehicles of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds or more and those identified as Highway Emergency Lane Patrol; vehicles of the Illinois Department of Transportation identified as Emergency Traffic Patrol; and vehicles of a municipal or county emergency services and disaster agency, as defined by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act.
(625 ILCS 5/1-105)
AUTOCYCLE. A three-wheel motor vehicle that has a steering wheel and seating that does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride it.
(625 ILCS 5/1-104.2)
BICYCLE. Every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels except scooters and similar devices.
(625 ILCS 5/1-106)
BUS. Every motor vehicle, other than a commuter van, designed for carrying more than ten persons.
(625 ILCS 5/1-107)
BUSINESS DISTRICT. The territory contiguous to and including a highway when within 600 feet along the highway there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes, including but not limited to hotels, banks, or office buildings, railroad stations, and public buildings which occupy at least 300 feet of frontage on one side, or 300 feet collectively on both sides of the highway.
(625 ILCS 5/1-108)
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE. Any vehicle operated for the transportation of persons or property in the furtherance of any commercial or industrial enterprise, for-hire or not-for-hire, but not including a commuter van, a vehicle used in a ridesharing arrangement when being used for that purpose, or a recreational vehicle not being used commercially.
(625 ILCS 5/1-111.8)
CONTROLLED-ACCESS HIGHWAY. Every highway, street, or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same, except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over the highway, street, or roadway.
(625 ILCS 5/1-112)
CROSSWALK.
(1) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway, and in the absence of a sidewalk on one side of a highway, that part of the highway included within the extension of the lateral line of the existing sidewalk to the side of the highway without the sidewalk, with the extension forming a right angle to the centerline of the highway;
(2) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface, placed in accordance with the provisions in the manual adopted by the Department of Transportation as authorized in 625 ILCS 5/11-301.
(625 ILCS 5/1-113)
DEPARTMENT. Except as otherwise designated, the Department of Transportation of the State of Illinois.
DRIVER. Every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
(625 ILCS 5/1-116)
ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICE. A self-balancing, two non-tandem wheeled device designed to transport only one person with an electric propulsion system that limits the maximum speed of the device to 15 mph or less.
(625 ILCS 5/1-117.7)
FARM TRACTOR. Every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing wagons, plows, mowing machines, and other implements of husbandry, and every implement of husbandry which is self-propelled.
(625 ILCS 5/1-120)
FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE. Any vehicle, bicycle, or electric personal assistive mobility device that is designated or authorized by proper local authorities for Fire Department use.
(625 ILCS 5/1-120.7)
GROSS WEIGHT. The weight of a vehicle, whether operated singly or in combination, without load, plus the weight of load thereon.
(625 ILCS 5/1-125)
HIGHWAY. The entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel or located on public school property.
(625 ILCS 5/1-126)
IMPLEMENT OF HUSBANDRY. Every vehicle designed and adapted exclusively for agricultural, horticultural, or livestock raising operations, including farm wagons, wagon trailers, or like vehicles used in connection therewith, or for lifting or carrying an implement of husbandry, provided that no farm wagon, wagon trailer, or like vehicle having a gross weight of more than 36,000 pounds, shall be included hereunder.
(625 ILCS 5/1-130)
IMPROVED HIGHWAY. Any roadway of concrete, brick, asphalt, macadam and crushed stone, or gravel.
(625 ILCS 5/1-131)
INTERSECTION.
(1) The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different roadways joining at any other angle may come in conflict.
(2) Where a highway includes two roadways 40 feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of the divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
(3) The junction of an alley with a street or highway does not constitute an intersection.
(625 ILCS 5/1-132)
LANE-CONTROL SIGNAL. An official traffic-control device consisting of an electrically controlled and illuminated signal of a square or rectangular design, and employing distinctive colors or symbols used to control the direction of vehicular flow on the particular lane to which the indication applies.
(625 ILCS 5/1-135)
LANED ROADWAY. A roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
(625 ILCS 5/1-136)
LEASE. A written document vesting exclusive possession, use, control, and responsibility of the lessee during the periods the vehicle is operated by or for the lessee for a specific period of time.
(625 ILCS 5/1-137)
LICENSE TO DRIVE. Any driver’s license or any other license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of this state including:
(1) Any temporary license or instruction permit;
(2) The privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle, whether or not the person holds a valid license or permit;
(3) Any nonresident’s driving privilege as defined herein.
(625 ILCS 5/1-138)
LIMOUSINE. Any privately owned first division vehicle intended to be used for the transportation of persons for-hire when the payment is not based on a meter charge but is prearranged for a designated destination.
(625 ILCS 5/1-139.1)
LOCAL AUTHORITIES. Every county, city, village, and other local board or body having authority to enact laws relating to traffic under the constitution and laws of this state and each road district Highway Commissioner having that authority.
(625 ILCS 5/1-140)
LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLE. A bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that meets the requirements of one of the following classes:
(1) “Class 1 low-speed electric bicycle” means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph.
(2) “Class 2 low-speed electric bicycle” means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 mph.
(3) “Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle” means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 mph.
A LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLE is not a moped or a motor driven cycle.
(625 ILCS 5/1-140.10)
LOW-SPEED GAS BICYCLE. A two- or three-wheeled device with fully operable pedals and a gasoline motor of less than one horsepower, whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.
(625 ILCS 5/1-140.15)
MAIL. To deposit in the United States mail properly addressed and with postage prepaid.
(625 ILCS 5/1-141)
MOTOR VEHICLE. Every vehicle which is self-propelled and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails, except for vehicles moved solely by human power, motorized wheelchairs, low-speed electric bicycles, and low-speed gas bicycles. For this section, motor vehicles are divided into two divisions:
(1) First division: motor vehicles designed for carrying not more than ten persons.
(2) Second division: motor vehicles designed for carrying more than ten persons, those designed or used for living quarters, and those motor vehicles which are designed for pulling or carrying freight or cargo, and those motor vehicles of the first division remodeled for use and used as motor vehicles of the second division.
(625 ILCS 5/1-146)
MOTOR-DRIVEN CYCLE. Every motorcycle and every motor scooter with less than 150 cubic centimeter piston displacement, including motorized pedalcycles.
(625 ILCS 5/1-145.001)
MOTORCYCLE. Every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding an autocycle or tractor.
(625 ILCS 5/1-147)
MOPED. A motor-driven cycle, with or without optional power derived from manually operated pedals, whose speed attainable in one mile is at least 20 mph but not greater than 30 mph, and is equipped with a motor that produces two brake horsepower or less. If an internal combustion engine is used, the displacement shall not exceed 50 cubic centimeter displacement and the power drive system shall not require the operator to shift gears.
(625 ILCS 5/1-148.2)
MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR. Any self-propelled vehicle, including a three-wheeled vehicle, designed for and used by a person with disabilities, that is incapable of a speed in excess of eight mph on level ground.
(625 ILCS 5/1-148.3)
MULTIFUNCTION SCHOOL ACTIVITY BUS. A school bus manufactured for the purpose of transporting 11 or more persons, including the driver, whose purposes do not include transporting students to and from home or school bus stops. A MFSAB is prohibited from meeting the special requirements for school buses in 625 ILCS 5/12-801, 12-802(a), 12-803, and 12-805.
(625 ILCS 5/1-148.3a-5)
NONCOMMERCIAL VEHICLE. Any vehicle that is not a commercial vehicle.
(625 ILCS 5/1-148.6)
NOT-FOR-HIRE. Operation of a commercial vehicle in furtherance of any commercial or industrial enterprise, but not-for-hire.
(625 ILCS 5/1-153)
OFFICIAL TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES. All signs, signals, markings, and devices which conform with the state manual, and not inconsistent with this title, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.
(625 ILCS 5/1-154)
OWNER. A person who holds legal title of a motor vehicle, or in the event a motor vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement, and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of the motor vehicle is entitled to possession, then the conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this title.
(625 ILCS 5/1-155)
PARK or PARKING. The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than when temporarily and actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
(625 ILCS 5/1-156)
PASSENGER CAR. A motor vehicle of the first division, including a multipurpose passenger vehicle, that is designed for carrying not more than ten persons.
(625 ILCS 5/1-157)
PEACE OFFICER. Any person who by virtue of his or her public employment is vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses, whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to specific offenses.
(625 ILCS 5/1-157.5)
PEDESTRIAN. Any person afoot or wearing in-line speed skates, including a person with a physical, hearing, or visual disability.
(625 ILCS 5/1-158)
PERSON WITH DISABILITIES. A natural person who, as determined by a licensed physician, by a licensed physician assistant, or by a licensed advanced practice registered nurse:
(1) Cannot walk without the use of, or assistance from, a brace, cane, crutch, another person, prosthetic device, wheelchair, or other assistive device;
(2) Is restricted by lung disease to such an extent that his or her forced (respiratory) expiratory volume for one second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than 60 mm/hg on room air at rest;
(3) Uses portable oxygen;
(4) Has a cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class III or Class IV, according to standards set by the American Heart Association;
(5) Is severely limited in the person’s ability to walk due to an arthritic, neurological, oncological, or orthopedic condition;
(6) Cannot walk 200 feet without stopping to rest because of one of the above five conditions; or
(7) Is missing a hand or arm or has permanently lost the use of a hand or arm.
(625 ILCS 5/1-159.1)
POLICE OFFICER. Every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic, or to make arrests and issue citations for violations of traffic regulations.
(625 ILCS 5/1-162)
POLICE VEHICLE. Any vehicle, bicycle, or electric personal assistive mobility device that is designated or authorized by proper local authorities for police use.
(625 ILCS 5/1-162.3)
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS. The place where any person transacts his or her principal business, or where he or she makes up and approves his or her payroll, maintains a central file of records, and maintains his or her principal executive offices. In the event that not all of these functions are performed in one place, then that place where a majority of these functions are performed, or the place where the person does in fact principally transact and control his or her business affairs shall be considered as the PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.
(625 ILCS 5/1-162.5)
PRIVATE ROAD OR DRIVEWAY. Every way or place in private ownership, and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons.
(625 ILCS 5/1-163)
RAILROAD. A carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails.
(625 ILCS 5/1-166)
RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING. The intersection of stationary rails owned or used in the operation of a railroad corporation across a highway.
(625 ILCS 5/1-166.1)
RAILROAD SIGN OR SIGNAL. Any sign, signal or device, other than an official traffic control signal or device, erected in accordance with the laws governing same and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train or railroad track equipment.
(625 ILCS 5/1-167)
RAILROAD TRACK EQUIPMENT. All vehicles operated upon rails for the purpose of the maintenance of railroads including, but not limited to, all hi-rail vehicles and on-track roadway maintenance machines, as defined in 49 C.F.R. pt. 214.7.
(625 ILCS 5/1-167.5)
RAILROAD TRAIN. A steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails, except streetcars.
(625 ILCS 5/1-168)
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. Every camping trailer, motor home, mini motor home, travel trailer, truck camper, or van camper used primarily for recreational purposes, and not used commercially nor owned by a commercial business.
(625 ILCS 5/1-169)
REGISTRATION. The registration certificate or certificates and registration plates issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the registration of vehicles.
(625 ILCS 5/1-171)
REGISTRATION STICKER. A device to be attached to a registration plate that will renew the registration and registration plate or plates for a predetermined period, not to exceed one registration year.
(625 ILCS 5/1-171)
REMOVE. Includes removing, defacing, covering, or destroying.
RESCUE SQUAD. A voluntary association of individuals, or a fire department, dedicated to saving lives through the rescue of persons entrapped in wrecked vehicles or other hazardous circumstances, and associated with some unit of government.
(625 ILCS 5/1-171.6)
RESCUE VEHICLE. Any publicly or privately owned vehicle which is specifically designed, configured, and equipped for the performance of access and extrication of persons from hazardous or life-endangering situations, as well as for the emergency transportation of persons who are sick, injured, wounded, or otherwise incapacitated or helpless.
(625 ILCS 5/1-171.8)
RESIDENCE DISTRICT.
(1) The territory contiguous to and including a highway, not comprising a business district, when the property on the highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is in the main improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for business.
(2) For purposes of establishing maximum speed limits, a RESIDENCE DISTRICT shall be at least a quarter of a mile long with residences or residences and buildings in use for businesses spaced no more than 500 feet apart.
(625 ILCS 5/1-172)
RETAIL SALE. The act or attempted act of selling vehicles or otherwise disposing of a vehicle to a person for use as a consumer.
(625 ILCS 5/1-174)
REVOCATION OF DRIVER’S LICENSE. The termination by formal action of the Secretary, of a person’s license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle on the public highways, which termination shall not be subject to renewal or restoration, except that an application for a new license may be presented and acted upon by the secretary after the expiration of at least one year after the date of revocation.
(625 ILCS 5/1-176)
RIGHT-OF-WAY. The right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed, and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision, unless one grants precedence to the other.
(625 ILCS 5/1-177)
ROAD TRACTOR. Every motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles, and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon, either independently or any part of the weight of a vehicle or load so drawn.
(625 ILCS 5/1-178)
ROADWAY. That portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term ROADWAY as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately, but not to all the roadways collectively.
(625 ILCS 5/1-179)
SAFETY ZONE. The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians, and which is protected or is so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.
(625 ILCS 5/1-181)
SCHOOL BUS.
(1) Every motor vehicle, except as provided in division (2) below, owned or operated by or for any of the following entities for the transportation of persons regularly enrolled as students in grade 12 or below in connection with any activity of the entity:
(a) A public or private primary or secondary school;
(b) A primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution; or
(c) Any public, private, or religious nursery school.
(2) This definition does not include the following:
(a) A bus operated by a public utility, municipal corporation, or common carrier authorized to conduct local or interurban transportation of passengers when the bus is not traveling a specific school bus route but is:
1. On a regularly scheduled route for the transportation of other fare-paying passengers;
2. Furnishing charter service for the transportation of groups on field trips or other special trips or in connection with special events; or
3. Being used for shuttle service between attendance centers or other educational facilities.
(b) A motor vehicle of the First Division; or
(c) A multi-function school-activity bus.
(625 ILCS 5/1-182)
SEMITRAILER. Every vehicle without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, and so constructed its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.
(625 ILCS 5/1-187)
SHOULDER. That portion of the highway adjacent to the roadway for accommodating stopped vehicles or for emergency use.
(625 ILCS 5/1-187.1)
SIDEWALK. That portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of roadway and the adjacent property lines, intended for use of pedestrians.
(625 ILCS 5/1-188)
SPEED-CHANGE LANE. An auxiliary lane, including tapered areas, primarily for the acceleration or deceleration of vehicles entering or leaving the through traffic lanes.
(625 ILCS 5/1-193)
STAND or STANDING. The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than when temporarily and actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.
(625 ILCS 5/1-194)
STATE. A state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a province of the Dominion of Canada.
(625 ILCS 5/1-195)
STATE HIGHWAYS. Defined in the Illinois Highway Code as the same may from time to time be amended.
(625 ILCS 5/1-196)
STATE POLICE. The Illinois State Police.
(625 ILCS 5/1-197)
STOP. The complete cessation from movement.
(625 ILCS 5/1-199)
STOP or STOPPING. Any halting, even momentarily, of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal.
(625 ILCS 5/1-200)
STREET. The entire width between boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
(625 ILCS 5/1-201)
SUBURBAN DISTRICT. That portion of any city, village, or incorporated town, other than the business and residence districts.
(625 ILCS 5/1-203)
THROUGH HIGHWAY. Every highway or portion thereof on which vehicular traffic is given preferential right-of-way, and at the entrances to which vehicular traffic from intersecting highways is required by law to yield the right-of-way to vehicles on the through highway in obedience to either a stop sign or a yield sign, when those signs are erected as provided in this title.
(625 ILCS 5/1-205)
TOW TRUCK. Every truck designed or altered and equipped for and used to push, tow, or draw vehicles by means of a crane, hoist, towbar, towline, or auxiliary axle, or to render assistance to disabled vehicles.
(625 ILCS 5/1-205.1)
TRAFFIC. Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel.
(625 ILCS 5/1-207)
TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNAL. Any official traffic-control device other than a railroad sign or signal, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed.
(625 ILCS 5/1-208)
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS. Any provision of this code or other regulatory ordinance the purpose of which is to directly control or improve traffic and safety of both vehicles and pedestrians.
TRAILER. Every vehicle without motive power in operation, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property, and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
(625 ILCS 5/1-209)
TRAVEL TRAILER. A trailer, not used commercially, designed to provide living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use, and of a size or weight not requiring an over-dimension permit when towed on a highway.
(625 ILCS 5/1-210.01)
TRUCK. Every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
(625 ILCS 5/1-211)
TRUCK CAMPER. A truck, not used commercially, when equipped with a portable unit designed to be loaded onto the bed which is constructed to provide temporary living quarters for recreational, travel, or camping use.
(625 ILCS 5/1-211.01)
TRUCK TRACTOR. Every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles, and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn, or a power unit that carries as property motor vehicles when operating in combination with a semitrailer in transporting motor vehicles or any other commodity including cargo or general freight, on a backhaul.
(625 ILCS 5/1-212)
URBAN DISTRICT. The territory contiguous to and including any street which is built up with structures devoted to business, industry, or dwelling houses, and situated at intervals of less than 100 feet for a distance of one-quarter mile or more.
(625 ILCS 5/1-214)
URBAN AREA. An urban area is any incorporated or unincorporated area developed primarily for residential or business purposes.
(625 ILCS 5/1-214.8)
VEHICLE.
(1) Every device, in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway or requiring a certificate of title under 625 ILCS 5/3-101(d), except devices moved by human power, devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, and snowmobiles as defined in the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act (625 ILCS 40).
(2) For the purposes of this section, unless otherwise prescribed, a device shall be considered to be a vehicle until such time it either comes within the definition of a “junk vehicle,” as defined under this section, or a junking certificate is issued for it.
(3) For this section vehicles are divided into two divisions:
(a) First division: those motor vehicles which are designed for the carrying of not more than ten persons;
(b) Second division: those vehicles which are designed for carrying more than ten persons; those designed or used for living quarters; those which are designed for pulling or carrying property, freight, or cargo; those vehicles of the first division remodeled for use and used as vehicles of the second division; and those vehicles of the first division used and registered as school buses.
(625 ILCS 5/1-217)