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Article III - Traffic Signs, Signals, And Markings

      (625 ILCS 5/Ch. 11 Art. III heading)ARTICLE III. TRAFFIC SIGNS, SIGNALS, AND MARKINGS

(625 ILCS 5/11‑301) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑301)     Sec. 11‑301. Department to adopt sign manual.     (a) The Department shall adopt a State manual and specifications for a uniform system of traffic‑control devices consistent with this Chapter for use upon highways within this State. Such manual shall include the adoption of the R 7‑8 sign adopted by the United States Department of Transportation to designate the reservation of parking facilities for a person with disabilities. Non‑conforming signs in use prior to January 1, 1985 shall not constitute a violation during their useful lives, which shall not be extended by other means than normal maintenance. The manual shall also specify insofar as practicable the minimum warrants justifying the use of the various traffic control devices. Such uniform system shall correlate with and, where not inconsistent with Illinois highway conditions, conform to the system set forth in the most recent edition of the national manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.     (b) Signs adopted by the Department to designate the reservation of parking facilities for a person with disabilities shall also exhibit, in a manner determined by the Department, the words "$100 Fine".     (c) If the amount of a fine is changed, the Department shall change the design of the signs to indicate the current amount of the fine. (Source: P.A. 88‑685, eff. 1‑24‑95; 89‑533, eff. 1‑1‑97.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑301.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑301.1)     Sec. 11‑301.1. Beginning July 1, 1988, all signs erected and used to designate the reservation of parking facilities for a person with disabilities shall be in a form and manner prescribed under Section 11‑301 of this Code, and all parking spaces reserved for a person with disabilities, except those reserving on‑street parking areas, shall be at least 16 feet wide. Non‑conforming signs in use prior to July 1, 1988 shall not constitute a violation during their useful lives, which shall not be extended by means other than normal maintenance. Beginning October 1, 1992, all parking spaces reserved for a person with disabilities, except those reserving on‑street parking areas, shall be at least 16 feet wide. (Source: P.A. 87‑562; 88‑685, eff. 1‑24‑95.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑302) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑302)     Sec. 11‑302. Authority to designate through highway and stop and yield intersections.     (a) The Department with reference to State highways under its jurisdiction, and local authorities with reference to other highways under their jurisdiction, may designate through highways and erect stop signs or yield signs at specified entrances thereto, or may designate any intersection as a stop intersection or as a yield intersection and erect stop signs or yield signs at one or more entrances to such intersection. Designation of through highways and stop or yield intersections and the erection of stop signs or yield signs on township or road district roads are subject to the written approval of the county engineer or superintendent of highways.     (b) Every stop sign and yield sign shall conform to the State Manual and Specifications and shall be located as near as practicable to the nearest line of the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if there is no crosswalk, then as close as practicable to the nearest line of the intersecting roadway.     (c) The Department may in its discretion and when traffic conditions warrant such action give preference to traffic upon any of the State highways under its jurisdiction over traffic crossing or entering such highway by erecting appropriate traffic control devices. (Source: P.A. 93‑177, eff. 7‑11‑03.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑303) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑303)     Sec. 11‑303. The Department to place signs on all State highways.     (a) The Department shall place and maintain such traffic‑control devices, conforming to its manual and specifications on all highways under its jurisdiction as it shall deem necessary to indicate and to carry out the provisions of this Chapter or to regulate, warn or guide traffic.     (b) No local authority shall place or maintain any traffic‑control device upon any highway under the jurisdiction of the Department except by the latter's permission.     (c) The Department shall erect and maintain guide, warning and direction signs upon highways in cities, towns and villages of which portions or lanes of such highways are under the control and jurisdiction of the Department or for which the Department has maintenance responsibility.     (d) Nothing in this Chapter shall divest the corporate authorities of park districts of power to prohibit or restrict the use of highways under their jurisdiction by certain types or weights of motor vehicles or the power of cities, villages, incorporated towns and park districts to designate highways for one‑way traffic or the power of such municipal corporations to erect and maintain appropriate signs respecting such uses.     (e) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a municipality, township, or county from erecting signs as required under the Illinois Adopt‑A‑Highway Act. (Source: P.A. 87‑1118.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑304) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑304)     Sec. 11‑304. Local traffic‑control devices; tourist oriented businesses signs.     Local authorities in their respective maintenance jurisdiction shall place and maintain such traffic‑control devices upon highways under their maintenance jurisdiction as are required to indicate and carry out the provisions of this Chapter, and local traffic ordinances or to regulate, warn, or guide traffic. All such traffic control devices shall conform to the State Manual and Specifications and shall be justified by traffic warrants stated in the Manual. Placement of traffic‑control devices on township or road district roads also shall be subject to the written approval of the county engineer or superintendent of highways.     Local authorities in their respective maintenance jurisdictions shall have the authority to install signs, in conformance with the State Manual and specifications, alerting motorists of the tourist oriented businesses available on roads under local jurisdiction in rural areas as may be required to guide motorists to the businesses. The local authorities and road district highway commissioners shall also have the authority to sell or lease space on these signs to the owners or operators of the businesses. (Source: P.A. 93‑177, eff. 7‑11‑03.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑305) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑305)     Sec. 11‑305. Obedience to and required traffic‑control devices. (a) The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic‑control device applicable thereto placed or held in accordance with the provisions of this Act, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this Act.     (b) It is unlawful for any person to leave the roadway and travel across private property to avoid an official traffic control device.     (c) No provision of this Act for which official traffic‑control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section does not state that official traffic‑control devices are required, such section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place.     (d) Whenever any official traffic‑control device is placed or held in position approximately conforming to the requirements of this Act and purports to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such device, such device shall be presumed to have been so placed or held by the official act or direction of lawful authority, and comply with the requirements of this Act, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.     (e) The driver of a vehicle approaching a traffic control signal on which no signal light facing such vehicle is illuminated shall stop before entering the intersection in accordance with rules applicable in making a stop at a stop sign. (Source: P.A. 84‑873.)

    (625 ILCS 5/11‑306) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑306)
    Sec. 11‑306. Traffic‑control signal legend. Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic‑control signals exhibiting different colored lights or color lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and the lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
    (a) Green indication.
        1. Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal

may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right of way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.

2. Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal,

shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right of way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

3. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian‑control

signal, as provided in Section 11‑307, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

(b) Steady yellow indication.         1. Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow

or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.

2. Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or

yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian‑control signal as provided in Section 11‑307, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.

(c) Steady red indication.         1. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of this

subsection (c), vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.

2. Except as provided in paragraph 3 of this

subsection (c), vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow and, unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication permitting the movement indicated by such red arrow is shown.

3. Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn

and local authorities by ordinance or State authorities by rule or regulation prohibit any such turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one‑way street into a one‑way street, after stopping as required by paragraph 1 or paragraph 2 of this subsection. After stopping, the driver shall yield the right of way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time such driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction or roadways. Such driver shall yield the right of way to pedestrians within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk.

4. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian‑control

signal as provided in Section 11‑307, pedestrians facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal alone shall not enter the roadway.

(d) In the event an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this Section shall be applicable except as to provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be at a traffic sign or a marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made or, in the absence of such sign or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.     (e) The motorman of any streetcar shall obey the above signals as applicable to vehicles. (Source: P.A. 94‑795, eff. 5‑22‑06.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑307) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑307)     Sec. 11‑307. Pedestrian‑control signals. Whenever special pedestrian‑control signals exhibiting the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" or the illuminated symbols of a walking person or an upraised palm are in place such signals shall indicate as follows:     (a) Walk or walking person symbol. Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal, and shall be given the right of way by the drivers of all vehicles.     (b) Don't Walk or upraised palm symbol. No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partly completed his crossing on the Walk signal or walking person symbol shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the "Don't Walk" signal or upraised palm symbol is illuminated, steady, or flashing. (Source: P.A. 81‑553.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑308) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑308)     Sec. 11‑308. Lane‑control signals. Whenever lane‑control signals are used in conjunction with official signs, they shall have the following meanings:     (a) Downward‑pointing green arrow. A driver facing this indication is permitted to drive in the lane over which the arrow signal is located. Otherwise he shall obey all other traffic controls present and follow normal safe driving practices.     (b) Red X symbol. A driver facing this indication shall not drive in the lane over which the signal is located, and this indication shall modify accordingly the meaning of all other traffic controls present. Otherwise he shall obey all other traffic controls and follow normal safe driving practices.     (c) Yellow X (steady). A driver facing this indication should prepare to vacate the lane over which the signal is located, in a safe manner to avoid, if possible, occupying that lane when a steady red X is displayed.     (d) Flashing yellow arrow. A driver facing this indication may use the lane only for the purpose of approaching and making a left turn. (Source: P.A. 81‑552.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑309) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑309)     Sec. 11‑309. Flashing Signals.     Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in conjunction with a traffic control device it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:     1. Flashing red (stop signal). When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the cross walk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then at a point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.     2. Flashing yellow (caution signal). When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.     3. This section does not apply at railroad grade crossings. Conduct of drivers of vehicles approaching railroad grade crossings shall be governed by Section 11‑1201 of this Act. (Source: P.A. 76‑2162.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑310) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑310)     Sec. 11‑310. Display of Unauthorized Signs, Signals or Markings.     (a) No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign, signal, marking, or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic‑control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the movement of traffic or the effectiveness of an official traffic‑control device or any railroad sign or signal.     (b) No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway any traffic sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.     (c) Every such prohibited sign, signal or marking is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and the authority having jurisdiction over the highway is hereby empowered to remove the same or cause it to be removed without notice.     (d) No person shall sell or offer for sale any traffic control device to be used on any street or highway in this State which does not conform to the requirements of this Chapter.     (e) This Section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection upon private property adjacent to highways of signs giving useful directional information and of a type that cannot be mistaken for official signs.     (f) This Section shall not be deemed to prohibit the erection of Illinois Adopt‑A‑Highway signs by municipalities, townships, or counties as provided in the Illinois Adopt‑A‑Highway Act.     (g) Any person failing to comply with this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. (Source: P.A. 87‑1118.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑311) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑311)     Sec. 11‑311. Interference with official traffic‑control devices or railroad signs or signals.     No person shall without lawful authority attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any official traffic‑control device, or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield, or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof.     Every person who is convicted of a violation of this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of at least $250 in addition to any other penalties which may be imposed. (Source: P.A. 83‑672.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑312) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑312)     Sec. 11‑312. Unlawful Use or Damage to Highways, Appurtenances and Structures. It shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully injure or damage any public highway or street or any bridge or culvert, or to wilfully damage, injure or remove any sign, signpost, or structure upon or used or constructed in connection with any public highway or street for the protection thereof or for protection or regulation of traffic thereon by any wilfully unusual, improper or unreasonable use thereof, or by wilfully careless driving or use of any vehicle thereon, or by the wilful mutilation, defacing, destruction or removal thereof.     Every person who is convicted of a violation of this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of at least $250 in addition to any other penalty which may be imposed. (Source: P.A. 83‑672.)

(625 ILCS 5/11‑313) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11‑313)     Sec. 11‑313. Unlawful possession of highway sign or marker. The Department and local authorities, with reference to traffic control signs, signals, or markers owned by the Department or local authority, are authorized to indicate the ownership of the signs, signals, or markers in letters not less than 3/8 inch or more than 3/4 inch in height, by use of a metal stamp, etching, or other permanent means and, except for employees of the Department or local authorities, police officers, contractors and their employees engaged in a highway construction contract or work on the highway approved by the Department or local authority, it is unlawful for any person to possess such sign, signal, or marker so identified. (Source: P.A. 91‑512, eff. 8‑13‑99.)