Sec. 12-701. Tractors, traction engines and motor trucks-Operation on highways-Turning on highways during farming operations-Violations. No tractor, traction engine, motor truck or other similar vehicle shall be operated across, over or along any public highway of this State which has been oil-treated, if any such vehicle has on the periphery of any of the road wheels any block, stud, flange, cleat, ridge, lug, or any projection of metal or wood which projects radially beyond the tread or traffic surface of the tire; except that this prohibition shall not apply to tractors or traction engines equipped with what is known as crawler type tractors, when the same does not contain any projections of any kind likely to injure the surface of the road, nor to tractors, traction engines and similar vehicles which have upon their road wheels V-shaped, diagonal or other cleats arranged in such a manner as to be continuously in contact with the road surface. In no event shall the oil mat surface of any oil-treated public road be used as an area or space for turning any tractor or other farm machinery in carrying on or performing any farming operations upon the adjacent land. Provided, that nothing in this Section contained shall prohibit the operation of tractors, traction engines or motor trucks across any oil-treated road in order to reach adjacent lands or the operation of any such vehicles upon the treated portion of such oil-treated roads if there is no untreated portion thereof over which they may be operated or the operation of any such vehicles on oil-treated roads if in passing along said road they travel over the portion of said road which does not constitute the oil mat surface created by said oil treatment or the use of flexible tire chains on any tractor, traction engine, motor truck or other similar vehicle being operated upon any such oil-treated road.
Illinois Compiled Statute
625 ILCS 5/12-701
Offense Description
Oil treated roads violations
Offense Classification
Petty Offense
Statutory Penalties & Sentencing Scope
No incarceration authorized · Fine up to $1,000
Supreme Court Rule 551 Mandatory Court Appearance
Personal appearance is not mandatory under Rule 551 by default. The citation may be satisfied by written appearance, pre-set administrative payment, or mail-in notice unless aggravated circumstances apply.
Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.
Secretary of State Driver's License Action
Standard Administrative Protocol: No automatic driver's license suspension or mandatory revocation is triggered by this offense code alone upon citation.
Under Illinois law, 625 ILCS 5/12-701 (Oil treated roads violations) is classified as a Petty Offense. Statutory sentencing scope: No incarceration authorized · Fine up to $1,000. Court appearance is not mandatory (pre-set bond or notice to appear), and pretrial release is presumptively release-eligible under the SAFE-T Act.
Offense Class & Sentencing ScopePetty Offense
No incarceration authorized · Fine up to $1,000
Court Appearance MandateRelease on Notice (No Mandate)
Personal appearance is not mandatory under Rule 551 by default. The citation may be satisfied by written appearance, pre-set administrative payment, or mail-in notice unless aggravated circumstances apply.
Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.
Secretary of State License SanctionStandard Administrative Protocol
No automatic driver's license suspension or mandatory revocation is triggered by this offense code alone upon citation.
Sec. 12-701. Tractors, traction engines and motor trucks-Operation on highways-Turning on highways during farming operations-Violations. No tractor, traction engine, motor truck or other similar vehicle shall be operated across, over or along any public highway of this State which has been oil-treated, if any such vehicle has on the periphery of any of the road wheels any block, stud, flange, cleat, ridge, lug, or any projection of metal or wood which projects radially beyond the tread or traffic surface of the tire; except that this prohibition shall not apply to tractors or traction engines equipped with what is known as crawler type tractors, when the same does not contain any projections of any kind likely to injure the surface of the road, nor to tractors, traction engines and similar vehicles which have upon their road wheels V-shaped, diagonal or other cleats arranged in such a manner as to be continuously in contact with the road surface. In no event shall the oil mat surface of any oil-treated public road be used as an area or space for turning any tractor or other farm machinery in carrying on or performing any farming operations upon the adjacent land. Provided, that nothing in this Section contained shall prohibit the operation of tractors, traction engines or motor trucks across any oil-treated road in order to reach adjacent lands or the operation of any such vehicles upon the treated portion of such oil-treated roads if there is no untreated portion thereof over which they may be operated or the operation of any such vehicles on oil-treated roads if in passing along said road they travel over the portion of said road which does not constitute the oil mat surface created by said oil treatment or the use of flexible tire chains on any tractor, traction engine, motor truck or other similar vehicle being operated upon any such oil-treated road.
It is unlawful for any person to operate any tractor, traction engine, motor truck or other similar vehicle over and along any public highway of this State, which has been oil-treated, in violation of the provisions of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 80-911.)
Frequently Asked Questions & Legal Analysis
Authoritative Statutory Guidance
What is the statutory penalty and sentencing range for 625 ILCS 5/12-701 in Illinois?
Under Illinois law, 625 ILCS 5/12-701 (Oil treated roads violations) is classified as a Petty Offense.
Sentencing Scope: No incarceration authorized · Fine up to $1,000
Is a court appearance mandatory for 625 ILCS 5/12-701 under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 551?
No Mandatory Court Appearance (Pre-Set Bond / Notice to Appear): Personal appearance is not mandatory under Rule 551 by default. The citation may be satisfied by written appearance, pre-set administrative payment, or mail-in notice unless aggravated circumstances apply.
Is an individual accused of 625 ILCS 5/12-701 detainable before trial under the SAFE-T Act?
Presumptive Pretrial Release: Presumptive Pretrial Release: This offense is non-detainable under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. The defendant is entitled to release on personal recognizance with non-monetary conditions unless charged with a subsequent detainable violation.
What Secretary of State driver's license sanctions apply to 625 ILCS 5/12-701?
Standard Administrative Protocol: No automatic driver's license suspension or mandatory revocation is triggered by this offense code alone upon citation.
Official Legal Citation Formats
Legal & Academic Reference
Standardized legal citations for briefs, court pleadings, law enforcement documentation, and academic research.
Illinois Supreme Court Citation625 ILCS 5/12-701 (West 2026)
The Bluebook Style (21st ed.)625 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/12-701 (2026)
Canonical Web Referencehttps://ilcsindex.com/statutes/625-ilcs-5-12-701