Help with Illinois roadway tow limits - Winthrop Harbor Issue
 

I was wondering if someone knows the actual laws regarding tow limits/restrictions for Illinois roadways. We have an issue with the police department in Winthrop Harbor Illinois. There is a 2 block section of road that is the only way in and out of an Illinois State park that they have posted as 55' limit for combined vehicle and trailer length. The officer that patrols that area stops recreational boaters (non-commercial haulers) and measures length, weighs each trailer axle and each truck axle. Basically checking you out as an overweight commercial semi-truck.

I am trying to get some actual facts if this is valid for them to do this to private individual that is towing there own boat and it is not commercial for hire.

I called the Illinois State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section phone number and spoke with a person that indicate the length/width restriction and oversize permits are for commercial or haul for hire individuals. A personal boat in tow by a non commercial vehicle does not have these limits applied. Is this true???

Can there be a town road leading to a state park that has only town requirements that allows the Winthrop Harbor police to place special restrictions/permits for this?

By the way, Winthrop Harbors permit is $40 round trip on that 2 block section. That Illinois state oversize permit is $13 for 90 miles, go figure.

Rick

Thanks for the warning. I guess I'll put in at Waukegan and run up to Winthrop for the next fun run:angry-smiley-055:

Rick;

I've heard this before about Winthrop Harbor. The harbor was originaly put there to help stimulate an economy that was in dire staits. What a way for a community to show their gratitude.....

Rick did they just start this, I've never had an issue when I've come through there. But I don't want to start having one either. We may launch from Northpoint on Sat to run to Chicago so any info you can give me on what's going on would be appreciated.

Rick

This might answer your questions but I also think it may be ultimately up to whatever the local ordinance may be. Try calling the Village of Winthrop Harbor and have them send you the ordinance for the town.

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

We have not had any problems. However, I have heard of a few situations over the last couple years. I don't know if they are getting worse lately but I don't want to get a ticket.

I spoke with several State Police about being stopped and each one was wondering why I had any concern at all. They just don't seem to be interested in stopping a privately owned/towed boat. This seems to be limited to this specific road.

The commador of our yacht club is going to talk with the police chief today to get a better understanding of why/what is going with this requirement.

I was asking the OSO bud's just to see if there is anything that can be dug up to show that this requirement is not correct and they are trying to make something out of nothing.

Smitty, I think I saw something like that printed in one of the boat magazines. However, it is wrong for Illinois. That article indicated combine length of 60' it is actual 65'. Below is the Illinois State info from their site.
http://www.dot.state.il.us/road/size_weight_bklt.pdf

Rick

Get a realistic sized boat!

Right after you get a realistic sized engine!

I should, mine isn't doing me any good...yet :D

That spreadsheet posted earlier is the same copy I have.

I think it is just a source of revenue for Winthrop Harbor.

Nice run Rick...thank you!

I need to find a 9ft long truck.:angry-smiley-044:

Everyone, there is some hope! I just spoke with Scott (head of the Winthrop Harbor yacht club). He sat down with the Winthrop Harbor Chief of Police and they had a heart to heart talk. They are going to work on how to return the fine that was issued to one of the Fun Run particapants. The yacht club and Winthrop Harbor really enjoyed our event and do not want to have a dark cloud associated with the length/weight limit issue on the road to the marina. They are working together to turn around this requirement and ease up or remove the requirement all together to make that a more friendly experience to go to the marina (for none commercial hauling).

They would like to meet with the head of the NIOC and Chicago Powerboat club to discuss this further and try to reach an understanding that will work out for everyone involved.

Sounds like great start to solving this one, thanks to Scott for getting this started!

Rick

good work Rick, thanks.

Good work Rick. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

7 years anything change?
Help with Illinois roadway tow limits - Winthrop Harbor Issue

Ive been trying to figure out what plate I need on my truck too... can`t really come up with an answer


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/n...*alert***.html

Problem is , most of the cops doing the traffic stops for this stuff really don't know the laws. However , they will write you, and let you fight it in court.

When my buddy got stopped in the town of Westmont IL towing his 34 scarab, it was a nightmare. They took him to the scales, wanted to impound the truck and boat for being overweight. After a several hour delay, and calling in the state police to come assist as they didn't know Wtf they were doing , they let him off easy with only 800 bucks worth of tickets and no impoundment .

^ That is just crazy!! $800 in tickets :eekdrop: Then you still have to go to court and fight it and loose a day's pay from work. That SUCKS!!

Sad part is he was happy to get off with that. Having only a TA trailer plate, and a "police memorial" plate on the truck, which according to them held no weight capacity, he was 16k lbs overweight. The TA trailer plate was only good for 3k lbs. Boat truck and trailer weighed 19k.

These cops are not playing around these days!

For the truck plate is it GVW of truck plus what your pulling? I actually don't have truck plates on my Excursion as it wasn't required to have them, just regular passenger vehicle plates. My trailer plate I run a TD which is rated for 8000-10,000lbs.

I called the Secretary Of State they told me at minimum I need a D plate for the truck. ( 1 ton) As far as if that plate covers the trailer, he didn`t know, checked with the supervisor, that person didn`t know either so they gave me some other commercial truck number to call.. lol

If you run a D plate, you also don't have to follow the lift laws on vehicle height and you don't have to run fender lips if your tires stick out beyond your fenders.

Yes sir. Thats the ***** of it. Nobody clearly knows. So the SOS employee, knows enough to tell you that you NEED a minimum of a "D" plate, doesnt know enough to comment on the trailer plate.

Interesting stuff I am gonna post.



(625 ILCS 5/3-401) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 3-401)
Sec. 3-401. Effect of provisions.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision of this Chapter or to drive or move or for an owner knowingly to permit to be driven or moved upon any highway any vehicle of a type required to be registered hereunder which is not registered or for which the appropriate fee has not been paid when and as required hereunder, except that when application accompanied by proper fee has been made for registration of a vehicle it may be operated temporarily pending complete registration upon displaying a duplicate application duly verified or other evidence of such application or otherwise under rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State.
(b) The appropriate fees required to be paid under the various provisions of this Act for registration of vehicles shall mean the fee or fees which would have been paid initially, if proper and timely application had been made to the Secretary of State for the appropriate registration required, whether such registration be a flat weight registration, a single trip permit, a reciprocity permit or a supplemental application to an original prorate application together with payment of fees due under the supplemental application for prorate decals.
(c) Effective October 1, 1984, no vehicle required to pay a Federal Highway Users Tax shall be registered unless proof of payment, in a form prescribed and approved by the Secretary of State, is submitted with the appropriate registration. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, failure of the applicant to comply with this paragraph shall be deemed grounds for the Secretary to refuse registration.
(c-1) A vehicle may not be registered by the Secretary of State unless that vehicle:
(1) was originally manufactured for operation on highways;



(2) is a modification of a vehicle that was originally manufactured for operation on highways; or



(3) was assembled from component parts designed for use in vehicles to be operated on highways.



(d) Second division vehicles.
(1) A vehicle of the second division moved or operated within this State shall have had paid for it the appropriate registration fees and flat weight tax, as evidenced by the Illinois registration issued for that vehicle, for the gross weight of the vehicle and load being operated or moved within this State. Second division vehicles of foreign jurisdictions operated within this State under a single trip permit, fleet reciprocity plan, prorate registration plan, or apportional registration plan, instead of second division vehicle registration under Article VIII of this Chapter, must have had paid for it the appropriate registration fees and flat weight tax in the base jurisdiction of that vehicle, as evidenced by the maximum gross weight shown on the foreign registration cards, plus any appropriate fees required under this Code.



(2) If a vehicle and load are operated in this State and the appropriate fees and taxes have not been paid or the vehicle and load exceed the registered gross weight for which the required fees and taxes have been paid by 2001 pounds or more, the operator or owner shall be fined as provided in Section 15-113 of this Code. However, an owner or operator shall not be subject to arrest under this subsection for any weight in excess of 80,000 pounds. Further, no fine shall exceed the actual cost of what the appropriate registration for that vehicle and load should have been as established in subsection (a) of Section 3-815 of this Chapter regardless of the route traveled. For purposes of this paragraph (2), "appropriate registration" means the full annual cost of the required registration and its associated fees.

So, I assume that, if lets say you need a ''D" plate, and a "TE" plate, does this mean, that if you DONT, and are stopped, the maximum fine can only be up to, what a "D" plate, and "TE" plate cost for 1 year registration? If so, than that is not that bad.



[B] (3) Any person operating a legal combination of vehicles displaying valid registration shall not be considered in violation of the registration provision of this subsection unless the total gross weight of the combination exceeds the total licensed weight of the vehicles in the combination. The gross weight of a vehicle exempt from the registration requirements of this Chapter shall not be included when determining the total gross weight of vehicles in combination.

I assume this means, that, if you are towing a trailer, as long as the trailer and truck plate weight classes add up to a higher amount than you are towing, than you should be ok?



(4) If the defendant claims that he or she had previously paid the appropriate Illinois registration fees and taxes for this vehicle before the alleged violation, the defendant shall have the burden of proving the existence of the payment by competent evidence. Proof of proper Illinois registration issued by the Secretary of State, or the appropriate registration authority from the foreign state, shall be the only competent evidence of payment.



(Source: P.A. 97-201, eff. 1-1-12.)

So you were right Joe, once i got to someone that knew what they were talking about they said trailer plate for the trailer weight... truck plate for truck weight.

(625 ILCS 5/15-113) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 15-113)

Sec. 15-113. Violations; Penalties.

(a) Whenever any vehicle is operated in violation of the provisions of Section 15-111 or subsection (d) of Section 3-401, the owner or driver of such vehicle shall be deemed guilty of such violation and either the owner or the driver of such vehicle may be prosecuted for such violation. Any person charged with a violation of any of these provisions who pleads not guilty shall be present in court for the trial on the charge. Any person, firm or corporation convicted of any violation of Section 15-111 including, but not limited to, a maximum axle or gross limit specified on a regulatory sign posted in accordance with paragraph (e) or (f) of Section 15-111, shall be fined according to the following schedule:

Up to and including 2000 pounds overweight, the fine is $100

From 2001 through 2500 pounds overweight, the fine is $270

From 2501 through 3000 pounds overweight, the fine is $330

From 3001 through 3500 pounds overweight, the fine is $520

From 3501 through 4000 pounds overweight, the fine is $600

From 4001 through 4500 pounds overweight, the fine is $850

From 4501 through 5000 pounds overweight, the fine is $950

From 5001 or more pounds overweight, the fine shall be computed by assessing $1500 for the first 5000 pounds overweight and $150 for each additional increment of 500 pounds overweight or fraction thereof.

In addition any person, firm or corporation convicted of 4 or more violations of Section 15-111 within any 12 month period shall be fined an additional amount of $5,000 for the fourth and each subsequent conviction within the 12 month period. Provided, however, that with regard to a firm or corporation, a fourth or subsequent conviction shall mean a fourth or subsequent conviction attributable to any one employee-driver.

(b) Whenever any vehicle is operated in violation of the provisions of Sections 15-102, 15-103 or 15-107, the owner or driver of such vehicle shall be deemed guilty of such violation and either may be prosecuted for such violation. Any person, firm or corporation convicted of any violation of Sections 15-102, 15-103 or 15-107 shall be fined for the first or second conviction an amount equal to not less than $50 nor more than $500, and for the third and subsequent convictions by the same person, firm or corporation within a period of one year after the date of the first offense, not less than $500 nor more than $1,000.

(c) All proceeds of the additional fines imposed by this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall be deposited into the Capital Projects Fund.

The IL license plate ratings confuse the hell out of me. The truck plates are one thing, and then with the combination vehicle along with trailer plates seems to really be a grey area.

It's really simple actually. Forget the door jamb stickers, trailer gvw and all that. What you need is a truck plate that covers the weight of your truck (including tongue weight). And a trailer plate that covers the weight of your trailer with the boat on it. Not what it weighs on paper, but what it weighs when they take you to the scale. That's what they look at.

Don't forget that with a "d" plate on the truck you need safety inspections done and sticker, same on the trailers. Illinois loves making it difficult for people

I hear you on the making it difficult. I have a class A CDL and that is a whole different level of difficult. The DOT regs., medical cards, log books, etc. The state is broke and it is a lot easier for the cops to pull over a personally owned truck/trailer or commercial rig and give them thousands of dollars worth of tickets than to pull over numerous speeders/seat belt violators.

one thing is for sure,IT,S ALL ABOUT THE REVENUE in illinois.without a doubt the most crooked state in the union being led by a complete moron!:stooges:

Not only do I live in the worst state in the union, the worst county in that state, and the worst city in that county when it comes to taxes and fees. I must be dead from the neck up to still be here .

What’s wrong with a B plate on a one Ton truck I don’t go over 8000 pounds in the truck towing a trailer with a TD plate.
Is it the safety inspection sticker can’t I get one with a B plate on the Truck. Does not look like I will be putting in at Winthrop Harbor $ 40.00 every time to the city of Winthrop Harbor.
Wisconsin can’t be as bad is it. Over all length 56’

Amen. I'm buying an out of state business. If I'm still here once I'm done paying it off and start taking profit, I'll be a complete moron. 5% for the pleasure of being a resident on top of every other rent seeking scheme they can come up with.

If your truck doesnt weight over 8000lbs then a B plate is fine.. my 1 ton dually is over 8000lbs. I was told inspections are not needed on pleasure vehicles.

if the truck has b plates and tows a trailer with a safety sticker [ required over 8000 lbs ] then the truck needs a safety sticker . they are also enforcing safety stickers on trailers, if the trailers have brakes ,all axles must have brakes, my 3 axle trailer had brakes on 2 had to add brakes to 3rd axle

^^^ The commercial guy from the state did not mention anything close to that ^^^^^, now they`re checking axles for brakes? Seriously?
I was very specific about being legal and what else do I need as a pleasure vehicle trailer. None of those above came up.

Technically if the truck has a d plate it needs a safety sticker. I just bought a 2014 f250 and they dumped me up to d plates, Trailer plate depends on how much the boat/trailer weighs, but you can combine the 2 to bridge the weight. So if the truck is plated at 12,000 and you have a td on the trailer which is good for 10,000 your make weight is 22,000 you are allowed. Trailer will pass safety lane with brakes on only one axle. Another big thing people don't think about is a combined weight of above 26,000 requires a cdl, and only the state police can do a walk around inspection on you vehicle. Basically if the plate expires at the end of June it needs to be inspected

So what is going. Happen if you have a Maine trailer plate..... Cuz that my only option

You guys saying you need a safety sticker, is it due to your city/county? I had to run a D plate on my '02 F350 and live in IL but never had to get inspections or safety stickers. I do live in a very rural county in central IL with no emissions inspections or any other B.S. though.

Technically your supposed to have the safety sticker with a D plate or heavier. You can get your plates and registration without it , but the wrong cop sees you don't have it and he can write you for not having it

Just got a $40 ticket from Palatine Police at a roadside truck weigh. Had D plates on truck and trailer - got ticket for no safety inspection on truck (guess he missed that there was not one on trailer). Went straight to safety lane inspection and got stickers for both for a combined total of $50.00. Inspection stickers are also only good for 6 months.

In Illinois all D plates have to have a safety sticker and I think any trailer plate over B needs to also have a safety sticker as well. And the fines for being overweight are insane if you get caught.