§ 102-37. Neighborhood electric vehicles.

This section shall apply to the operation of neighborhood electric vehicles within the City of Ottawa, Illinois, and any operation thereof inconsistent with this section or the Illinois Vehicle Code shall be deemed illegal and a violation of this section.

(1)

As used in this section, "neighborhood electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electronically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle which has a 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN), is licensed by the State of Illinois, and which is capable of attaining in one mile a speed of more than 20 miles per hour, but not more than 25 miles per hour, and which conforms to federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R. Part 571.500.

(2)

A neighborhood electric vehicle may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. This subsection (2) does not prohibit a neighborhood electric vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.

(3)

A person may not operate a neighborhood electric vehicle upon any street, highway, or roadway in the City of Ottawa unless he or she has a valid Illinois driver's license issued in his or her name by the secretary of state.

(4)

No neighborhood electric vehicle may be operated on a street, highway or roadway unless, at a minimum, it has the following: brakes, a steering apparatus, tires, a rearview mirror, red reflectorized warning devices in the front and rear, a slow moving emblem (as required of other vehicles in section 12-709 of the Illinois Vehicle Code) on the rear of the neighborhood electric vehicle, a headlight that emits a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front, a tail lamp that emits a red light visible from at least 100 feet from the rear, brake lights, and turn signals. When operated on a roadway, a neighborhood electric vehicle shall have its headlight and tail lamps lighted as required by section 12-201 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(5)

Neighborhood electric vehicles may only be operated upon those streets and roadways located within the City of Ottawa where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less and where signs have been posted indicating that neighborhood electric vehicles are permitted.

(Ord. No. O75-2006, § 2, 9-5-2006; Ord. No. O27-2015, § 6, 7-21-2015)