(A) All words and phrases used in this title, and defined in the State Vehicle Code (ILCS Ch. 625, Act 5) entitled “Illinois Vehicle Code”, created by 1969 legislation, and as amended, shall have the same meaning herein as they have in the Act.
(B) For the purposes of this title, 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.
AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Includes police vehicles, vehicles of the Fire Department and ambulances.
BUSINESS DISTRICT. The territory in the county contiguous to and including a street or highway when, within any 600 feet along the street or 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 street or highway.
CROSSWALK.
(a) The 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 the 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 center line of the highway; and
(b) 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.
DRIVER. Any person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
HANDICAPPED PERSON. Every natural person who is unable to walk 200 feet or more unassisted by another person or without the aid of a walker, crutches, braces, prosthetic device or a wheelchair or without great difficulty or discomfort due to the following impairments: neurologic, orthopedic, respiratory, cardiac or arthritic disorder; blindness; or the loss of function or absence of a limb or limbs.
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.
INTERSECTION. The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curblines 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.
(a) 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.
(b) The junction of an alley with a street or highway does not constitute an
INTERSECTION.
LANED ROADWAY. A roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
MERGING TRAFFIC. A maneuver executed by the drivers of the vehicles on converging roadways to permit entry into the junction thereof, wherein the driver of each vehicle involved is required to adjust his or her vehicular speed and lateral position so as to avoid a collision with any other vehicle.
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 and motorized wheelchairs. For this title, MOTOR 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 motor vehicles which are designed for carrying more than ten persons, those designed or used for living quarters, 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.
MOTORCYCLE. Any motor vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.
OWNER. A person who holds the legal title of a vehicle or, in the event of a 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 a vehicle is entitled to possession, then the conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this chapter.
PARK or PARKING. The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
PEDESTRIAN. Any person afoot.
PNEUMATIC TIRE. Any tire in which compressed air is designed to support the load.
POLICE OFFICER. Any person lawfully authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.
PRIVATE ROAD OR DRIVEWAY. Any 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.
RAILROAD. A carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails.
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.
RAILROAD TRAIN. A steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails, except streetcars.
RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The territory of the city contiguous to and including a street or highway not comprising a business district when the property on the street or highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is in the main improved with residence or residences and buildings in use for business.
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 the circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other.
ROADWAY. The 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 roadway separately, but not to all roadways collectively.
SAFETY ZONE. The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians or the loading or unloading of passengers for any duly enfranchised bus line 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.
SCHOOL BUS.
(a) Every motor vehicle, except as provided in division (b) 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:
1. Any public or private primary or secondary school;
2. Any primary or secondary school operated by a religious institution; or
3. Any public, private or religious nursery school.
(b) This definition shall not include the following:
1. A bus operated by a public entity, 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:
a. On a regularly scheduled route for the transportation of other fare-paying customers;
b. Furnishing charter service for the transportation of groups on field trips or other special trips or in connection with other special events; or
c. Being used for shuttle service between attendance centers or other educational facilities.
2. A motor vehicle of the First Division.
SEMITRAILER. Any vehicle without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle.
SIDEWALK. The portion of a street between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property lines intended for the use of pedestrians.
SOLID TIRE. Any tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon compressed air for the support of the load.
STAND or STANDING. The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than when temporarily and actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.
STATE HIGHWAYS. Those highways defined by state law to be state highways.
STOP. Complete cessation from movement.
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.
STREET. The entire width between boundary lines of every publicly maintained way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
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 right-of-way to vehicles on a through highway in obedience to either a stop sign or yield sign, when signs are erected as provided in this title.
TRAFFIC. Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any highway for purposes of travel.
TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICE. All signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with the manual and specifications adopted pursuant to state law, placed or erected by authority of a body of public officials having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.
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.
TRAILER. Any 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 that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
VEHICLE. Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, 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. For the purposes of this title, unless otherwise prescribed, a device shall be considered to be a vehicle until a time it either comes within the definition of a junk vehicle, as defined under this title, or a junking certificate is issued for it.
WILL COUNTY. All territory within the geographical limits of the County of Will and State of Illinois, which is not within the limits of any city, incorporated town or village.
YIELD RIGHT-OF-WAY. The act of granting the privilege of the immediate use of the intersecting roadway to traffic within the intersection and to vehicles approaching from the right or left, but when the roadway is clear may proceed into the intersection.
(1980 Code, § 70.03) (Res. 90-29, adopted 2-15-1990)