103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB0342

 

Introduced 2/2/2023, by Sen. Christopher Belt

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
625 ILCS 5/11-907  from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-907

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing red, red and white, blue, or red and blue lights or amber or yellow warning lights, on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not less than 2 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle, a person who drives an approaching vehicle in a lane not immediately adjacent to that of the stationary authorized emergency vehicle shall: (1) reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, and if possible, with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way to an approaching vehicle in the lane immediately adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle that has activated an electric turn signal device indicating the intention of the driver to change out of the lane immediately adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle into a lane farther from the stationary authorized emergency vehicle; or (2) proceeding with due caution and due regard to safety and traffic conditions, make a lane change into a lane farther from the stationary authorized emergency vehicle, if on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not less than 3 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle.


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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 11-907 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/11-907)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-907)
7    Sec. 11-907. Operation of vehicles and streetcars on
8approach of authorized emergency vehicles.
9    (a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency
10vehicle making use of audible and visual signals meeting the
11requirements of this Code or a police vehicle properly and
12lawfully making use of an audible or visual signal:
13        (1) the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the
14    right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position
15    parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand
16    edge or curb of the highway clear of any intersection and
17    shall, if necessary to permit the safe passage of the
18    emergency vehicle, stop and remain in such position until
19    the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless
20    otherwise directed by a police officer; and
21        (2) the operator of every streetcar shall immediately
22    stop such car clear of any intersection and keep it in such
23    position until the authorized emergency vehicle has

 

 

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1    passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
2    (b) This Section shall not operate to relieve the driver
3of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with
4due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
5    (c) Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency
6vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is giving a
7signal by displaying alternately flashing red, red and white,
8blue, or red and blue lights or amber or yellow warning lights,
9a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:
10        (1) proceeding with due caution, yield the
11    right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not
12    adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if
13    possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions,
14    if on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not less than
15    2 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the
16    approaching vehicle; or
17        (2) if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe,
18    proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the
19    vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, and
20    leaving a safe distance until safely past the stationary
21    emergency vehicles.
22    The visual signal specified under this subsection (c)
23given by an authorized emergency vehicle is an indication to
24drivers of approaching vehicles that a hazardous condition is
25present when circumstances are not immediately clear. Drivers
26of vehicles approaching a stationary emergency vehicle in any

 

 

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1lane shall heed the warning of the signal, reduce the speed of
2the vehicle, proceed with due caution, maintain a safe speed
3for road conditions, be prepared to stop, and leave a safe
4distance until safely passed the stationary emergency vehicle.
5    As used in this subsection (c), "authorized emergency
6vehicle" includes any vehicle authorized by law to be equipped
7with oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights under Section
812-215 of this Code, while the owner or operator of the vehicle
9is engaged in his or her official duties.
10    (c-5) Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency
11vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is giving a
12signal by displaying alternately flashing red, red and white,
13blue, or red and blue lights or amber or yellow warning lights,
14on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not less than 2 lanes
15proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle, a
16person who drives an approaching vehicle in a lane not
17immediately adjacent to that of the stationary authorized
18emergency vehicle shall:
19        (1) reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a
20    safe speed for road conditions, and if possible, with due
21    regard to safety and traffic conditions, yield the
22    right-of-way to an approaching vehicle in the lane
23    immediately adjacent to that of the authorized emergency
24    vehicle that has activated an electric turn signal device
25    indicating the intention of the driver to change out of
26    the lane immediately adjacent to that of the authorized

 

 

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1    emergency vehicle into a lane farther from the stationary
2    authorized emergency vehicle; or
3        (2) proceeding with due caution and due regard to
4    safety and traffic conditions, make a lane change into a
5    lane farther from the stationary authorized emergency
6    vehicle, if on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not
7    less than 3 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the
8    approaching vehicle.
9    (d) A person who violates subsection (c) of this Section
10commits a business offense punishable by a fine of not less
11than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first violation, and a
12fine of not less than $750 or more than $10,000 for a second or
13subsequent violation. It is a factor in aggravation if the
14person committed the offense while in violation of Section
1511-501, 12-610.1, or 12-610.2 of this Code. Imposition of the
16penalties authorized by this subsection (d) for a violation of
17subsection (c) of this Section that results in the death of
18another person does not preclude imposition of appropriate
19additional civil or criminal penalties. A person who violates
20subsection (c) and the violation results in damage to another
21vehicle commits a Class A misdemeanor. A person who violates
22subsection (c) and the violation results in the injury or
23death of another person commits a Class 4 felony.
24    (e) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section
25results in damage to the property of another person, in
26addition to any other penalty imposed, the person's driving

 

 

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1privileges shall be suspended for a fixed period of not less
2than 90 days and not more than one year.
3    (f) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section
4results in injury to another person, in addition to any other
5penalty imposed, the person's driving privileges shall be
6suspended for a fixed period of not less than 180 days and not
7more than 2 years.
8    (g) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section
9results in the death of another person, in addition to any
10other penalty imposed, the person's driving privileges shall
11be suspended for 2 years.
12    (h) The Secretary of State shall, upon receiving a record
13of a judgment entered against a person under subsection (c) of
14this Section:
15        (1) suspend the person's driving privileges for the
16    mandatory period; or
17        (2) extend the period of an existing suspension by the
18    appropriate mandatory period.
19    (i) The Scott's Law Fund shall be a special fund in the
20State treasury. Subject to appropriation by the General
21Assembly and approval by the Director, the Director of the
22State Police shall use all moneys in the Scott's Law Fund in
23the Department's discretion to fund the production of
24materials to educate drivers on approaching stationary
25authorized emergency vehicles, to hire off-duty Illinois
26Department of State Police for enforcement of this Section,

 

 

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1and for other law enforcement purposes the Director deems
2necessary in these efforts.
3    (j) For violations of this Section issued by a county or
4municipal police officer, the assessment shall be deposited
5into the county's or municipality's Transportation Safety
6Highway Hire-back Fund. The county shall use the moneys in its
7Transportation Safety Highway Hire-back Fund to hire off-duty
8county police officers to monitor construction or maintenance
9zones in that county on highways other than interstate
10highways. The county, in its discretion, may also use a
11portion of the moneys in its Transportation Safety Highway
12Hire-back Fund to purchase equipment for county law
13enforcement and fund the production of materials to educate
14drivers on construction zone safe driving habits and
15approaching stationary authorized emergency vehicles.
16    (k) In addition to other penalties imposed by this
17Section, the court may order a person convicted of a violation
18of subsection (c) to perform community service as determined
19by the court.
20(Source: P.A. 101-173, eff. 1-1-20; 102-336, eff. 1-1-22;
21102-338, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)