Frequently Asked Questions
What are the state laws and village ordinances governing air
rifles?
According to state statute, an "air rifle" means
and includes an air gun, pistol, spring gun, spring pistol,
B-B gun,
pellet gun or any implement that is not a firearm which impels
a breakable paint ball containing washable marking colors or,
a pellet constructed of hard plastic, steel, lead or other
hard materials with such force that reasonably is expected
to cause
bodily harm.
There are two state laws and one village ordinance governing
the use of air rifles. The first makes it unlawful for
any dealer or other person to sell, lend, rent give or otherwise
transfer
an air rifle to any person under the age of thirteen. The
exceptions to this law are parent, guardian, or licensed
instructor.
The second law makes it unlawful for any person under 13
to carry an unloaded air rifle on public streets, roads,
highways or public
lands within the state. In addition, an air rifle cannot
be discharged from across any street, sidewalk, road,
highway, or public land.
The only legal place that a person of any age can discharge
an air rifle is on a safely constructed target range.
Village ordinance further restricts the discharge
of air rifles by prohibiting their discharge anywhere
within the
village. This
ordinance also includes any gun or device that is intended
to project a bullet, pellet, arrow or similar projectile.
Is alcohol consumption or possession by minors ever
legal?
According to state statute, no person under the age
of 21 is allowed to possess alcohol, purchase or
attempt to purchase
alcohol,
or have any alcohol in their blood. In addition,
it is
unlawful for any minor to enter onto a licensed
liquor establishment,
except as a customer in a restaurant, while working
as an employee, or when accompanied by his/her
parent or
guardian.
It is unlawful for any person, including parents
or guardians, to sell, give or deliver alcoholic
liquor
to a minor.
Even if a person does not actually supply the
alcohol, but knowingly
allows any minor to remain on the premises while
consuming or
in possession of alcohol is violating city ordinance.
A person under the age of 21 that is found to
have any alcohol in his/her blood will have
their driver’s license suspended.
If that person refuses to submit to a blood test, that person's
license will be suspended for an extended period.
Do traffic laws apply to bicycles?
There are several different state statutes
governing bicycles. The most important
thing to remember
is that traffic laws
apply equally to persons riding bicycles
as well as motor vehicles.
Bicycle riders must observe the same traffic
lights, right of ways, and all other laws.
There are a few additions to these laws,
however. First, bicycles cannot be used
to carry more
persons than
they were designed
and equipped to carry, and riders cannot
attach themselves to any vehicle on a
roadway. Second,
bicycles operating
at less
than the normal speed of traffic shall
ride as close as practical to the right
hand curb
or
edge of the
roadway. Bicycle riders
are not allowed to impede the flow of
traffic, and are expected to keep at least one hand
on the handlebars
at
all times.
Since bicycles are not usually equipped
with turn signals, hand signals for
turns and
stops are required.
Bicycles, unlike cars, are allowed
to be parked and ridden on the sidewalk,
but
the right of
way shall
be yielded
to any pedestrian,
and an audible signal (not siren)
shall be given before overtaking any pedestrian.
If
a rider
elects to park
his bicycle on
the sidewalk, it cannot impede the
normal
and reasonable movement
of pedestrians or other traffic.
In terms of equipment, bicycles ridden
at night must be equipped with
a white light
visible
from a distance
of
at least 500
feet, and a red reflector on the
rear visible from all distances
between 100 and 600 feet. All bicycles must
have a brake.
Officers often get questions about
driver’s license and
registration laws, and other traffic related issues. Here is
a list of answers to the most common questions:
- Drivers license and proof
of insurance must be carried
and displayed,
if
requested by a
police officer;
- A vehicle will be impounded
if the driver does not
have a valid license
and fails
to meet the
mandatory insurance
requirements
when stopped;
- The drivers license
of a minor out after
curfew is
not
valid;
- Every vehicle (except
motorcycles) must be
equipped with two license
plates that
are securely
affixed,
with one in
the front
and one in the rear;
- License plates cannot
be covered with any
foreign material,
including
tinted
plastic covers. Clear
plastic covers are
now allowed as long
as they remain clear
and
cannot be covered
by a license plate frame;
- The license plate
sticker must be
visible and properly
placed
in the
bottom center
portion of
the rear plate.
It cannot be
vertical, and it
cannot be covered
by a license
plate
frame;
- Every vehicle
(except motorcycles)
must be
equipped with
two headlights and
two taillights;
- The Secretary
of State must
be notified
within
10 days
for a change
of address
for both vehicle
registration
and
drivers
license;
- Any person
transporting
a child under
the
age of 4
in a non-commercial
vehicle
must secure
that
child
in
a child
restraint
system;
- A child
between
the ages of 4
and 6 must
be secured
in a child
restraint
system
or
seat belt;
- Passing
on the
shoulder
is permitted
only
if the shoulder
is paved
and wide
enough
to
accommodate
two vehicles;
- Drivers
are
not allowed
to
wear
headphones,
with
the
exception of
motorcycle
riders
using
an
intercom system;
- The
driver
and
front
seat
passenger
must
use
seat
belts;
- Sound amplification
systems in
a vehicle
are unlawful
if the
sound is
audible 75
feet or
more outside
the vehicle;
- Excessive muffler
noise is
prohibited;
- Tinted windows
are prohibited;
- Transportation of
open alcohol
in a
motor vehicle
is prohibited;
- It is
unlawful to
allow an
unauthorized person
to drive;
- If the
traffic lights
are not
working, the
intersection becomes
a 4-way
stop.
What
are the
laws concerning
yielding right
of way
to buses
and emergency
vehicles?
Drivers
must always
yield the
right of
way for
emergency
vehicles.
Upon the
approach of
an emergency
or police
vehicle, making
use of
audible and
visual signals,
drivers shall
yield the
right of
way and
immediately drive
to a
position parallel
to, and
as close
as possible
to, the
right-hand
edge
of the
road to
permit safe
passage of
the emergency
vehicle. The
driver shall
remain in
such position
until the
emergency vehicle
has passed,
unless otherwise
directed by
a police
officer.
In
terms of
passing
a
school bus,
it is
illegal
when
the the
stop arm
is extended
and the
red lights
are flashing.
This includes
both sides
of the
street for
a two-lane
road. Only
the traffic
proceeding
in
the same
direction
as
the stopped
school
bus
must stop
on a
four-lane
road.
What
are
the
regulations
concerning
dogs and
cats?
It
is
unlawful
for any
person
to
be
the
owner
of
a dog
or
cat
within
the
village
unless
a license
has
been
obtained.
Licenses
must
be
obtained
on
or before
May
1
of each
year,
unless
animal
is
less
than
four
months
old,
in
which
case
a
license
must
be
obtained
when
the animal
reaches
that
age.
If
a
dog
or cat
is
acquired
after
May
a license
must
be
obtained
within
five
days
after
acquisition,
or
when
the animal
is
four
months
old,
whichever
is
the later.
Dog
and
cat licenses
can
be
obtained
at
Village
Hall.
A
certification
of
inoculation
against
rabies
must
be
submitted
at
the
time
of
application
for
a
license.
Every
owner
must
have
the
license
tag
securely
attached
to
a
collar
or
harness
fastened
around
the
neck
or
body
of
the
animal
at
all
times
when
the
animal
is
off
the
premises
of
the
owner.
It
is
unlawful
for
a
dog,
except
when
on
a
leash
and
controlled
by
the
owner,
to
be
on
any
public
street,
sidewalk,
parkway,
public
area
or
unenclosed
premises
within
the
village.
No
leash
can
be
longer
than
eight
feet
in
length. The Village Code also prohibits cats from running at
large. |
