102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4635
 
Introduced 1/21/2022, by Rep. Jackie Haas
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
  
625 ILCS 5/12-601  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-601

     Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Permits a vehicle operated by a State or local special weapons tactics team, or the equivalent thereof, to be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell.
  


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A BILL FOR
 

  
HB4635LRB102 24097 RAM 33322 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning transportation.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended  by 
5changing Section 12-601 as follows:
 


6    (625 ILCS 5/12-601)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-601)



7    Sec. 12-601. Horns and warning devices. 

8    (a) Every motor vehicle when
operated upon a highway shall 
9be equipped with a horn in good working order
and capable of 
10emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance

11of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device 
12shall emit an
unreasonable loud or harsh sound or a whistle.  
13The driver of a motor vehicle
shall when reasonably necessary 
14to insure safe operation give audible warning
with his horn 
15but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.

16    (b) No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person 
17use upon a
vehicle
any siren, whistle, or bell, except as 
18otherwise permitted in this Section.
Any authorized emergency 
19vehicle or organ transport vehicle as defined in
Chapter 1 of 
20this Code, or a vehicle operated by a fire chief, deputy fire 
21chief, assistant fire chief, or the Director or Coordinator of 
22a municipal or county emergency services and disaster agency, 
23or a vehicle operated by a State or local special weapons and 
 
 
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1tactics team or the equivalent thereof may be
equipped with a 
2siren, whistle, or bell capable of emitting sound audible

3under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 500 
4feet, but such
siren, whistle, or bell shall not be used except 
5when such vehicle is operated
in response to an emergency call 
6or in the immediate pursuit
of an actual or
suspected violator 
7of the law in either of which events the driver of such
vehicle 
8shall sound such siren, whistle, or bell when necessary to 
9warn
pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof.

10    (c) Trackless trolley coaches, as defined by Section 1-206 
11of this Code,
and replica trolleys, as defined by Section 
121-171.04 of this Code, may
be equipped with a bell or bells in 
13lieu of a horn, and may, in addition to
the requirements of 
14subsection (a) of this Section, use a bell or bells for the

15purpose of indicating arrival or departure at designated stops 
16during the hours
of scheduled operation.

17(Source: P.A. 102-448, eff. 1-1-22.)