103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB1251

 

Introduced 2/3/2023, by Sen. Adriane Johnson

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/11-1421  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1421

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that the operator of the ambulance or rescue vehicle shall have documented, specified, training in the operation of an ambulance or rescue vehicle prior to operating that vehicle. In municipality with a population of 1,000,000 or under, requires the siren and lamp or lamps on an ambulance or a rescue vehicle to be in operation at all times when pedestrians and other drivers are present (instead of when it is reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof) during a trip or journey when the ambulance or rescue vehicle is either responding to a bona fide emergency call or specifically directed by a licensed physician to disregard traffic laws in operating the ambulance during and for the purpose of the specific trip or journey that is involved. Provides an ambulance or rescue vehicle shall be operated in complete conformance with other motor vehicle laws and regulations when the speed of the ambulance or rescue vehicle exceeds 25 miles per hour (instead of 40 miles per hour).


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A BILL FOR

 

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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 11-1421 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/11-1421)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-1421)
7    Sec. 11-1421. Conditions for operating ambulances and
8rescue vehicles.
9    (a) No person shall operate an ambulance or rescue vehicle
10in a manner not conforming to the motor vehicle laws and
11regulations of this State or of any political subdivision of
12this State as such laws and regulations apply to motor
13vehicles in general, unless in compliance with the following
14conditions:
15        0.5. The operator of the ambulance or rescue vehicle
16    shall have documented training in the operation of an
17    ambulance or rescue vehicle prior to operating that
18    vehicle. This training shall include the proper use of
19    warning lights and sirens, situations where warning lights
20    and sirens are warranted, and the provisions of this
21    Section.
22        1. The person operating the ambulance shall be either
23    responding to a bona fide emergency call or specifically

 

 

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1    directed by a licensed physician to disregard traffic laws
2    in operating the ambulance during and for the purpose of
3    the specific trip or journey that is involved;
4        2. The ambulance or rescue vehicle shall be equipped
5    with a siren producing an audible signal of an intensity
6    of 100 decibels at a distance of 50 feet from the siren,
7    and with a lamp or lamps emitting an oscillating, rotating
8    or flashing red beam directed in part toward the front of
9    the vehicle, and these lamps shall have sufficient
10    intensity to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight,
11    and in addition to other lighting requirements, excluding
12    those vehicles operated in counties with a population in
13    excess of 2,000,000, may also operate with a lamp or lamps
14    emitting an oscillating, rotating, or flashing green
15    light;
16        3. The aforesaid siren and lamp or lamps shall be in
17    operation at all times when it is reasonably necessary to
18    warn pedestrians and other drivers are present of the
19    approach thereof during such trip or journey, except that
20    in a municipality with a population over 1,000,000, the
21    siren and lamp or lamps shall be in operation only when it
22    is reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other
23    drivers of the approach thereof while responding to an
24    emergency call or transporting a patient who presents a
25    combination of circumstances resulting in a need for
26    immediate medical intervention;

 

 

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1        4. Whenever the ambulance or rescue vehicle is
2    operated at a speed in excess of 25 40 miles per hour, the
3    ambulance or rescue vehicle shall be operated in complete
4    conformance with every other motor vehicle law and
5    regulation of this State and of the political subdivision
6    in which the ambulance or rescue vehicle is operated,
7    relating to the operation of motor vehicles, as such
8    provision applies to motor vehicles in general, except
9    laws and regulations pertaining to compliance with
10    official traffic-control devices or to vehicular operation
11    upon the right half of the roadway; and
12        5. The ambulance shall display registration plates
13    identifying the vehicle as an ambulance.
14    (b) The foregoing provisions do not relieve the driver of
15an ambulance or rescue vehicle from the duty of driving with
16due regard for the safety of all persons, nor do such
17provisions protect the driver from the consequences resulting
18from the reckless disregard for the safety of others.
19(Source: P.A. 100-962, eff. 1-1-19.)