Summary
of Illinois Snowmobiling Law
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The
following is a general guide to the highlights of the Illinois Snowmobile
Registration and Safety Act. The entire Act may be found in the Illinois
Compiled Statutes, Chapter 625. More complete information is available from
Department of Natural Resources regional offices or Law Enforcement Division
personnel. Please remember that regulations on state- or county-managed
public lands may be more restrictive. Be sure to check area managers to
determine local regulations. The information is based on laws in effect
as of 2000 and is subject to change. |
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ARTICLE
1. DEFINITIONS |
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- Snowmobile
- "Snowmobile"
means a self-propelled device designed for travel on snow or ice or
natural terrain, steered by skis or runners, and supported in part by
skis, belts, or cleats.
- Operate
- "Operate"
means to ride in or on, other than as a passenger, use or control the
operation of a snowmobile in any manner, whether or not the snowmobile
is underway.
- Highway
- "Highway"
means 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.
- Roadway
- "Roadway"
means that portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used
for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.
- Cowling
- "Cowling"
means the forward portion of a snowmobile surrounding the clutch and
motor assembly.
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ARTICLE
2. INSPECTION |
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Agents
of the Department of Natural Resources or other duly authorized police officers
may stop and inspect any snowmobile at any time for the purpose of determining
if the provisions of this Act are being complied with. |
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ARTICLE
3. REGISTRATION |
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Operation
of Unnumbered Snowmobiles. Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall,
after the effective date of this Act, operate any snowmobile within the
State unless such snowmobile has been registered and numbered in accordance
with the provisions of this Article, and unless the certificate of number
awarded to such snowmobile is in full force and effect. |
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Exception
from Numbering Provisions of this Act. A snowmobile shall not be required
to be numbered under this Act if it is: |
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A. |
Owned
and used by the United Stated, another state, or a political subdivision
thereof, but such snowmobiles shall display the name of the owner on the
cowling thereof. |
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B. |
Covered
by a valid registration of license or another state, province or country
which is the domicile of the owner of the snowmobile and is not operated
within this State on more than 30 consecutive days in any calendar year. |
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C. |
Owned
and operated on lands owned by the owner or operator or on lands to which
he has a contractual right other than as a member of a club or association,
provided the snowmobile is not operated elsewhere in this state. |
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D.
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Designed for
use by small children primarily as a toy and used only on private property
and not on any public use trail.
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Identification
Number Application. The owner of each snowmobile requiring numbering by
this State shall file a snowmobile application for number with the Department
of Natural Resources. The application shall be signed By the owner of the
snowmobile and shall be accompanied by the required documents and appropriate
fees. |
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Identification
Number Display. The Department shall issue to the snowmobile owner two registration
expiration decals with the number awarded to that snowmobile imprinted upon
the decals. The owner shall apply these decals on each side of the cowling
of such snowmobile. The certificate of number shall be pocket size and shall
be available at all times for inspection on the snowmobile for which issued,
whenever such snowmobile is in operation. (See illustration) |
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ARTICLE 4. SNOWMOBILE EQUIPMENT |
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All
snowmobiles operating with the state of Illinois shall be equipped with: |
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A. |
At
least one white headlamp having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity
to exhibit a white light plainly visible from a distance of at least 500
feet ahead during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions. |
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B. |
At
least one red tail lamp having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity
to exhibit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the
rear during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions. |
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C. |
A
brake system in good mechanical condition. |
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D. |
Reflective
material of a minimum area of 16 square inches mounted on each side of the
cowling. Identifying numbers may be included in computing the required 16-square-inch-area. |
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E. |
Adequate
sound suppression equipment. No snowmobile manufactured after June 1, 1972,
shall be sold or offered for sale, unless it is equipped with sound suppression
devices that limit total machine noise in accordance with noise pollution
standards established pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act. (415
ILCS 5/1 et seq.) |
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ARTICLE
5. CONTROL PROVISIONS |
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1. |
General
Operation. It is unlawful for any person to drive or operate any snowmobile
in the following ways: |
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A. |
At
a rate of speed too fast for conditions and the fact that the speed of the
snowmobile does not exceed the applicable maximum speed allowed does not
relieve the driver from the duty to decrease speed as may be necessary to
avoid colliding with any person or vehicle or object, within legal requirements
and the duty of all persons to use due care. |
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B. |
In
a careless, reckless, or negligent manner. |
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C. |
At
any time without at least one lighted headlamp and one lighted tail lamp
on the snowmobile. |
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D. |
Within
any nature preserve. |
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E. |
On
the tracks or right of way of an operating railroad. |
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F. |
In
any tree nursery or planting in a manner which damages or destroys growing
stock, or create a substantial risk thereto. |
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G. |
On
private property without the written or verbal consent of the owner or lessee. |
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2. |
Operation
on highways. It is unlawful for any person to drive or operate any snowmobile
on a highway in this state except as follows: |
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A. |
On
highways other than tollways, interstate highways and fully or limited access-controlled
highways snowmobiles may make a direct crossing provided: |
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1. |
The
crossing is made at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the direction
of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and
safe crossing; and |
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2. |
The
snowmobile is brought to a complete stop before crossing a roadway; and |
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3. |
The
operator yields the right of way to all oncoming traffic that constitutes
a hazard. |
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B.
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On
highways other than tollways, interstate highways and fully or limited access-controlled
highways, snowmobiles may be operated not less than 10 feet from the roadway
and in the same direction as traffic. On such highways, other than state
highways, the corporate authorities of a city, village or incorporated town
may adopt ordinances providing for variance from the 10 feet separation
requirement of this subsection within city, village or town limits. Corporate
authorities of a city, village or incorporated town may adopt ordinances
providing for trails and regulating snowmobile operation within city, village
or town limits. |
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C. |
On
highways other than tollways, interstate highways and fully or limited access-controlled
highways, snowmobiles may be operated on roadways when it is necessary to
cross a bridge or culvert or when it is impracticable to gain immediate
access to an area adjacent to a highway where a snowmobile is to be operated. |
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D. |
Corporate
authorities of a city, village or incorporated town may by ordinance designate
one or more specific public highways or streets within their jurisdiction
as egress and ingress routes for the use of snowmobiles. In the event that
such public highways or streets are under the jurisdiction of the State
of Illinois, expressed written consent of the Illinois Department of Transportation
shall be required. Corporate authorities acting under the authority of this
paragraph D shall erect and maintain signs giving proper notice thereof.
(This section effective April 1, 1982) |
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E. |
Snowmobiles
may be lawfully driven or operated upon those highways where posted by the
township road commissioner in townships with a population of less than 5,000
inhabitants. For purposes of this paragraph E, "highways" are
defined as township roads pursuant to Section 2-205 of the Illinois Highway
Code. (This section effective April 1, 1982) |
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3. |
Youthful
Operators: |
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A. |
No
person under 10 years of age may operate a snowmobile, other than machines
designed for use by small childen primarily as a toy and used only on private
property and not on any public use trail. |
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B. |
Persons
at least 10 and less than 12 years of age may operate a snowmobile only
if: |
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1. |
They
are either accompanied on the snowmobile by a parent or guardian or a person
at least 18 years of age designated by a parent or guardian. |
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C. |
Persons
at least 12 and less than 16 years of age may operate a snowmobile only
if: |
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1. |
They
are accompanied on the snowmobile by a parent or guardian or a person at
least 16 years of age designated by a parent or guardian. or |
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2. |
such
snowmobile operator is in possession of a Snowmobile Safety Certificate
issued by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Land Management
and Education, authorizing the holder to operate snowmobiles. |
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D. |
Any
person who operates a snowmobile on a highway as provided in Article 5 shall
(a) possess a valid motor vehicle driver's license; or (b) possess a safety
certificate as provided for in this Section. Any such person less than 16
years of age shall also be under the immediate supervision of a parent or
guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated by the parent or
guardian. |
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E. |
Violations
of this Section done with the knowledge of a parent or guardian shall be
deemed a violation by the parent or guardian and punishable under Article
X of this Act (625 ILCS 40/10-1). |
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4. |
Operation
on Ice |
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Snowmobiles
may be operated on the frozen waters of this state subject to the general
operation control provisions. |
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5. |
Other
Prohibitions |
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A. |
No
Person, except persons permitted by law, shall operate or ride any snowmobile
with any firearm in his possession unless it is unloaded and enclosed in
a carrying case, or any bow unless it is unstrung in a carrying case. |
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B. |
No
person shall deposit from a snowmobile on the snow, ice or ground surface,
trash, glass, garbage, insoluble material, or other offensive matter. |
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C. |
No
person shall use a snowmobile to take, pursue or intentionally harass or
disturb wildlife, except such restrictions shall not apply to a person acting
to protect livestock from predatory animals. |
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6. |
Operating
a Snowmobile Under the Influence of Alcohol or Other Drub (OUI) |
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No
person shall operate a snowmobile while under the influence of alcohol or
any other drug to the degree which renders him/her incapable of safely operating
such snowmobile, or who has any amount of a drug, substance, or compound
in his/her blood or urine resulting from the unlawful use or consumption
of cannabis as defined in the Cannabis Control Act or a controlled substance
listed in the Illinois Controlled Substance Act. |
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ARTICLE
6. ACCIDENT REPORTS |
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A. |
The
operator of a snowmobile involved in a collision, accident or other casualty
shall render to other persons affected by this collision, accident or other
casualty as may be necessary in order to save them from or minimize any
danger caused by the collision, accident or other casualty, and also shall
give his name, address and identification of his snowmobile to any person
injured and to the owner of the property damaged in the collision, accident
or other casualty. |
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B. |
In
the case of collision, accident or other casualty involving the operation
of a snowmobile, the operator thereof, if the collision, accident or other
casualty results in death or injury to a person or damage to property in
excess of $750, shall file with the Department a full description of the
collision, accident or other casualty, including such information as the
Department may, by regulation, require. Reports of such accidents must be
filed with the Department on a Department Accident Report form within five
days. |
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C. |
Reports
of accidents resulting in personal injury, wherein a person is incapacitated
for a period exceeding 72 hours, must be filed with the Department on a
Department Accident Report form within five days. Accidents, which result
in loss of life, shall be reported to the Department on a Department form
within 48 hours. |
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