Every driver needs to know that to practice safe driving, they need to obey the laws whenever they are on the road.
This responsibility also extends to how drivers park their vehicles and where. Different states have several laws and regulations relating to where drivers can park their vehicles. If you fail to adhere to those laws, you’ll likely face penalties or fines.
In some states, your vehicle may even end up being towed and impounded. I’m sure you don’t want that, right? Paying fines or paying to get your vehicle out of impound is something all drivers avoid, so make sure you understand your state’s parking laws.
In this article, we’ll discuss the different parking laws in Illinois.
What You Should Know About Illinois’ Parking Laws
Before we proceed, let’s review the basics.
In Illinois, towns and cities will have their own fines for different types of infractions. Some rules will only apply to certain municipalities, too. This is the reason why you need to know the laws in your specific area so that you can abide by them.
Oftentimes, local rules and regulations are posted on signs, especially if they differ from the norm. So make sure to watch out for those posted parking rules and follow them.
That said, most parking laws cover the entire state. For example, in Illinois, you are not allowed to stop, stand, or park in certain places. Double parking is also prohibited, so make sure not to park on the roadway side if there is another vehicle that is already parked across.
Now let’s cover what these state laws are!
Hill Parking
Any time you park on a hill, you should put the gear select in park and set the parking/emergency brake if necessary. When starting your vehicle from an uphill or downhill location, you should release the parking/emergency brake, give the correct signal, check for oncoming traffic and proceed when it is safe to do so.
- If you park on a street with curbing and your vehicle is facing downhill, turn the front
wheels toward the curb so your vehicle will roll toward the curb. - If you park your vehicle facing uphill and there is a curb, turn the front wheels away
from the curb. - If you park on a street without curbing, turn the wheels toward the side of the road
on which you are parked.
Parallel Parking
When parking on streets with two-way traffic, park so the right-hand wheels are parallel to and within 12 inches of the curb. On a one-way street or road, park within 12
inches of the right or left curb. Vehicles must be parked in the direction in which traffic is moving.
Parking for Persons with Disabilities
Vehicles displaying license plates or parking placards for persons with disabilities may park in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities. Such vehicles are exempt from parking meter fees and time limits, except where parking is limited to 30 minutes or less.
The authorized holder of the parking placard or plates must be present and must enter or exit the vehicle at the time the parking privileges are being used. Striped areas on the pavement are part of the reserved spaces and may not be parked in by anyone.
Prohibited Stopping, Standing, Parking
Stopping, standing or parking is prohibited in specified places. Local stopping, standing and parking regulations may be posted on signs. There are, however, statewide
regulations that are not always indicated by signs.
Stopping, standing or parking is prohibited:
- On the roadway side of any parked vehicle (double parking).
- On a sidewalk, crosswalk or within an intersection.
- Between a safety zone and the adjacent curb.
- Beside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction if your vehicle would block
traffic. - On any bridge, overpass, railroad track or within a highway tunnel.
- On any controlled access roadway — one you may enter or exit only at certain points.
- In the area between roadways of a divided highway, including crossovers.
- On a paved roadway or highway outside business or residential districts when it is
practical to stop or park off the roadway. In an emergency, you may stop and park
only if there is a clear view for 200 feet in each direction. Turn on your emergency
flashers and make sure there is enough space for other vehicles to pass. - At any place where official signs prohibit stopping, standing or parking.
Standing or parking a vehicle, whether occupied or not, is prohibited:
- In front of a public or private driveway.
- Within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
- Within 20 feet of a fire station driveway or crosswalk at an intersection.
- Within 30 feet of a STOP sign, YIELD sign or traffic control signal.
Parking a vehicle, whether occupied or not, is prohibited:
- Within 50 feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing.
- On a highway between sunset and sunrise unless parking lights are displayed in
front and rear, or you are within an urban district where lights are not required.
Headlights on parked vehicles must be dimmed.