In addition to State Laws, The City of Kankakee has local ordinances regarding vehicle operation. While most ordinances mirror state law, others deal with specific problems. We will list some common ordinance that govern vehicle operation and storage.


Parking Laws      Noise Ordinance      School Zone      Drivers Under 21, What Every Parent Should Know      Alcohol and Driving      BAC Calculator

Adjudication

ch 36-07 : Persons who are cited may request an Administrative hearing to adjudicate any alleged ordinance violation on its merits, or to contest the validity of a notice of impending impoundment.  A hearing may be requested in writing or in person at the Adjudication Department in City hall.

Administrative Seizure

Drivers who are arrested for DUI, Driving while license is Suspended or Revoked or that are driving a motor vehicle and are arrested for a warrant for Dui, Suspended or Revoked will be subject to an Administrative Seizure.  The vehicle will be towed and held subject to a $500.00 bond.  Owners or drivers must pay the bond prior to the release of the vehicle.  The bond  does NOT apply toward  the tow or service fees or toward the arrestee's jail bond.

 

Parking Laws

Vehicle definition
Vehicles are any device , in , upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported upon a highway except devices moved by human power.

Truck Parking
Ordinance 32-171c: Trucks, other than pickup trucks, are prohibited from parking on streets longer than is necessary to load or unload.
Ordinance 10-10.01f: Prohibits parking trucks over 8000lbs MGVW on any property not zoned for commercial use.
 

Street Parking:
Vehicles parked on the street must have the passenger side wheels within 12" of the curb. (exception is one way street)
Vehicles may not be parked; on or blocking an alley, in a yard on grass, dirt or mud, on the terrace (area between the curb and sidewalk), in a fire lane, on a sidewalk, within any intersection, on a crosswalk, within twenty feet (20') of a crosswalk at an intersection , within fifteen feet (15') of a fire hydrant, in front of a private driveway, within fifty feet (50') of a railroad crossing. A handycapped permit must be displayed to park in a handicapped zone. Additionally the handicapped person must be in the vehicle and exiting the vehicle to remain parked in the space. A valid perscription must be in the vehicle indicating the handicapped person and term. A new perscription must be obtained annually.
It is unlawful to leave keys in a parked vehicle, always remember to take them with you.

During snowfall, after two inches (2") of accumulation you may NOT park on:
The south side or east side of the street on even days of the week
The west side or north side of the street on odd days of the week
 

Vehicles illegally parked may be ticketed and immediately towed at owners expense.

Vehicles left on the street in a non-operating, wrecked, partially dismantled condition will be tagged for tow. The owner will have three days to correct the problems. Extensions may be granted if adequate efforts are made to repair the short commings. Vehicles may be tagged for:
Flat tire, wrecked, broken glass, missing parts, non-running condition, expired or suspended state license plates.

Vehicles parked on private property in a non-operating , wrecked or partially dismantled condition will be tagged for tow. The owner will have seven (7) days to correct the problems. Extensions may be granted if adequate efforts are made to repair the shortcommings. Vehicles may be tagged for:
Flat tires, wrecked, broken glass, missing parts or non-running vehicle.

If an owner wishes to discard a vehicle, they may at no cost to them. Many tow companies and auto recycle yards will tow a vehicle from the property with a properly signed title free of cost to the owner. The police will tow a vehicle from private property provided the property manager or owner sign a tow sheet.
Single family residences do not require any sign posting to have any cars removed.
Business, apartments ( where two or more apartments are on one property) are required to post a sign at every driveway or curb cut allowing vehicular access to the property within five feet (5') from the public right of way line.
The notice must clearly indicate, in not less than 2 inch high light-reflective letters on a contrasting background that, unauthorized vehicles will be towed away at the owner's expense. the notice must also provide the name and current telephone number of the towing service .
The sign must be installed with the bottom not less than four feet (4') above ground level and must continuously remain on the property for twentyfour (24) hours prior to any removal. If vehicles are towed in violation of this state law the property owner will be liable for the tow.

If your vehicle breaks down and you park it on private property. You should notify the property owner and leave a clearly visible note in the dash with your name, pager, cell phone or telephone number. Arrangements should be made for the timely repair or removal from the property.

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Noise Nuisance
The City of Kankakee has a noise nuisance ordinance to deal with loud music from vehicles. If the music can be heard for a distance of fifty feet (50') the driver will be issued a noise nuisance citation, the occupants will be removed from the car and the car towed.

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School Zone

The Speed Limit in School zones is 20 MPH. We enforce school zones when children are present. Kankakee has several public and perochial schools that operate on different schedules. When driving from 7:00am to 4:00pm you should assume the school zone is active. Penalties in school zones are enhanced and you can not receive supervision for a school zone violation.

When a School Bus is stopped and displaying amber flashing lights, be prepared to stop. School buses will activate yellow lights to warn you they are going to activate their stop arms to pick up or discharge children. You are required to stop in both directions and may not pass a school bus on a two or three lane roadway. When a bus has the stop arm activated on a four lane roadway, the traffic going the same direction must stop. Oncoming traffic on four lane roads are not required to stop but should be cautious. No one may receive supervision for violating a stop arm and in addition to enhanced penalties your driving privelages will be suspended for one year.

Crossing guards, operate at crossings in or near school zones. Motorists must obey crossing guards directions.

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Drivers Under 21, What Every Parent Should Know

Illinois has a graduated driving program for all persons under twenty-one years of age. The program has three phases:

 

PERMIT PHASE DRIVERS AGE 15

INITIAL LICENSING PHASE DRIVERS AGE 16-17

FULL LICENSING PHASE DRIVERS AGE 18-20

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does a graduated driver licensing system raise the minimum age at which an individual may apply for a driver’s license?

A: Absolutely not. Under "Graduate to Safety," 16 remains the age at which a teen that has successfully completed driver education may apply for a driver’s license. The graduated system establishes additional training requirements during the instruction permit phase, resulting in better-trained 16-year-old drivers.

Q: Have graduated driver-licensing systems been effective in other states and is it necessary in Illinois?

A: Yes. Graduated driver licensing systems have proven effective in reducing the number of traffic crashes and convictions among young people in other states. In Illinois teenagers make up only 6 percent of the total driving population, yet account for 16 percent of all automobile deaths. Maryland has seen a 5 percent reduction in automobile crashes and a 10 percent reduction in traffic convictions. California has experienced a 4 percent reduction in automobile crashes and a 20 percent reduction in convictions. Through "Graduate to Safety," teen drivers receive more training, and those who prove to be unsafe drivers are taken off the road for additional training before they can become fully licensed.

Q: Why does "Graduate to Safety" limit the number of passengers in a car driven by a teen?

A: Drivers in the permit phase (age 15) and the initial licensing phase (ages 16 and 17) are limited to one passenger in the front seat and the number of safety belts in the back seat. After January 1, 2004 the new initial license holder will be limited to only one passenger under the age of twenty during the first six months of their license or until the license holder reaches the age of 18, whichever occurs first. These restrictions reduce the likelihood a driver will be distracted by a car full of fellow teens. Limiting the number of passengers to the number of safety belts also helps to ensure that everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained.

Q: How will the "limit of one passenger under age 20" rule work for the teenager that receives their license prior to January of 2004?

A: A teenager (16 or 17 years old) receiving their initial license prior to January 1, 2004 will be restricted after the effective date of January 1, for the remainder of the six months from issuance of that license. For example, if the under 18 year old driver was issued a license on Sept. 7, 2003 they would need to comply with the only one passenger under 20 rule from January 1, 2004 until March 7, 2004.

Q: Will this prevent my 16-year-old teenager from driving their brother, sister and cousin to events?

A: The brother and sister (siblings) will not count; they are exempt under this law. The cousin, if under the age of 20 will be counted as the one passenger.

Q: If required passengers are not belted in the vehicle while my teenager is driving who will be cited?

A: If the driver is under age 18 they will be cited for the violation if anyone under age 18 is unrestrained in the vehicle. It is the discretion of the officer to cite passengers over age 16 (and under age 18) in the back seat. Any passenger over age 16 in the front seat will be cited.

 


For more information on "Graduate to Safety,"
please call (217) 785-0440 or write
Office of the Secretary of State
Division of Traffic Safety
2701 S. Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL 62723



Alcohol and Driving

UNDER 21
Illinois has a zero tolerance law for drivers under 21. Drivers under 21 who are driving after consuming any alcohol will have their license suspended. First time offenders will be suspended for a minimum of three months. Repeat offenders will have licenses suspended for a minimum of one year.
21 and over
In Illinois if the drivers blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 or greater you are presumed DUI. If any non-perscription drug listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances act is found in the blood, the driver is presumed DUI.
Failure to take or complete a test will result in a minimum suspension of 6 months for first time offenders and a 2 year suspension for a repeat offender.

A driver who takes a test and has a bac above the limit or non-perscription drugs will result in a three month suspension for the first offence and one year for any repeat offences
 

Possession of alcohol
Persons under 21 may not possess alcohol in Illinois. The driver is responsible for the vehicle and its contents. A person who has alcohol in their blood is in possession of the alcohol and can be charged with possession by a minor.

No occupants of a vehicle may possess open containers of alcohol with their origional seal broken in Illinois. Exceptions are rear passengers of limousine, bus or motorhome over the age of 21
 
 

Calculate Blood Alcohol

How many drinks does it take?
Calculate your blood-alcohol level

Blood-Alcohol Content Calculator
If it doesn't work, click here

A person's blood-alcohol level is the result of a complex interaction of weight, gender, alcohol consumed and time.

Weight (pounds)

Drinks Consumed 
(12 ounces beer or equivalent)

Over Time Period (hours)

Gender


B.A.C.: 

The basic formula for estimating a person's blood-alcohol concentration comes from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each drink in this calculation assumes a volume of of .54 ounces of alcohol (one shot of distilled spirits, a glass of wine, or 12 ounces of beer).
Many of us have wondered just how many drinks it takes before we'd be considered legally drunk.

In Illinois, you're presumed drunk if you have a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent. If you get pulled over and your blood-alcohol level is above the legal limit, you risk being arrested for  driving under the influence of alcohol.

This calculator helps you figure out what your blood-alcohol content would be if you drank a specific number of drinks over a certain period of time. Remember, this is just an approximation. The calculator has to make certain assumptions, such as drinking all that alcohol on an empty stomach. If you eat while you drink, the alcohol is absorbed more slowly into your bloodstream.

Alcohol effects everyone differently. Of course, if you don't normally drink, a single beer could put you out of commission. For the most part, by the time you feel drunk, you're well past the legal limit.

In general, the more you weigh, the more you'd have to drink before you'd be considered drunk. Consider this: A 210-pound male could drink four beers in an hour and still not be legally drunk in Illinois. His blood-alcohol content would be 0.0616. If a 150-pound man drank the same amount, his blood-alcohol content would be 0.0910 — or presumed intoxicated in Illinois.

Gender also effects your blood-alcohol content. The female counterpart to a 150-pound drunken male would have a blood-alcohol content of 0.10998 after consuming four drinks in an hour.

The slower you drink, the more time your body has to metabolize the alcohol. Each hour you add takes 0.012 off your blood-alcohol content, according to the formula the calculator uses.  This is for guidance only, if you drink we urge you to use a designated ( non-drinking) driver.  The drinks would be consumed slowly over the period selected.  It takes approximately fifteen minutes from the time you consume the alcohol until it enters your blood stream.  If you consumed a drink at last call you may feel fine walking to your car, but then while driving the alcohol begins to additionally effect your driving.  

If the calculator doesn't work

The calculator is Javascript-based, so it may not work with some older browsers. If you have Netscape Navigator 2.0 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher, it should work correctly. If it doesn't, check the browser's settings to make sure you have Javascript enabled.
 


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