Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB0621
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Full Text of SB0621  99th General Assembly

SB0621sam001 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

Filed: 3/19/2015

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 621

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 621 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
5changing Section 12-215 and by adding Section 1-220 as follows:
 
6    (625 ILCS 5/1-220 new)
7    Sec. 1-220. Volunteer EMS provider. An Emergency Medical
8Services (EMS) Volunteer Ambulance provider who, on the
9effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General
10Assembly, has a valid memorandum of understanding with a
11municipality with a population of more than 1,000,000 to
12provide voluntary assistance to and for the benefit of the
13residents of that municipality.
 
14    (625 ILCS 5/12-215)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-215)
15    Sec. 12-215. Oscillating, rotating or flashing lights on

 

 

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1motor vehicles. Except as otherwise provided in this Code:
2    (a) The use of red or white oscillating, rotating or
3flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited
4except on:
5        1. Law enforcement vehicles of State, Federal or local
6    authorities;
7        2. A vehicle operated by a police officer or county
8    coroner and designated or authorized by local authorities,
9    in writing, as a law enforcement vehicle; however, such
10    designation or authorization must be carried in the
11    vehicle;
12        2.1. A vehicle operated by a fire chief who has
13    completed an emergency vehicle operation training course
14    approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and
15    designated or authorized by local authorities, in writing,
16    as a fire department, fire protection district, or township
17    fire department vehicle; however, the designation or
18    authorization must be carried in the vehicle, and the
19    lights may be visible or activated only when responding to
20    a bona fide emergency;
21        3. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
22    federal firefighting vehicles;
23        4. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively as
24    ambulances or rescue vehicles; furthermore, such lights
25    shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency
26    call for and while actually conveying the sick or injured;

 

 

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1        4.5. Vehicles which are occasionally used as rescue
2    vehicles that have been authorized for use as rescue
3    vehicles by a volunteer EMS provider, provided that the
4    operator of the vehicle has successfully completed an
5    emergency vehicle operation training course recognized by
6    the Department of Public Health; furthermore, the lights
7    shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency
8    call for the sick or injured;
9        5. Tow trucks licensed in a state that requires such
10    lights; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on
11    any such tow truck while the tow truck is operating in the
12    State of Illinois;
13        6. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management
14    Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
15    Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public
16    Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of
17    Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of
18    Juvenile Justice;
19        7. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
20    management services agency as defined in the Illinois
21    Emergency Management Agency Act;
22        8. School buses operating alternately flashing head
23    lamps as permitted under Section 12-805 of this Code;
24        9. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as
25    organ transplant vehicles when used in combination with
26    blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights;

 

 

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1    furthermore, these lights shall be lighted only when the
2    transportation is declared an emergency by a member of the
3    transplant team or a representative of the organ
4    procurement organization;
5        10. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
6    Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives
7    emergency response; and
8        11. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of
9    Transportation identified as Emergency Traffic Patrol; the
10    lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an
11    emergency call or when parked or stationary while engaged
12    in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the
13    emergency; and
14        12. Vehicles of the Illinois State Toll Highway
15    Authority identified as Highway Emergency Lane Patrol; the
16    lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an
17    emergency call or when parked or stationary while engaged
18    in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the
19    emergency.
20    (b) The use of amber oscillating, rotating or flashing
21lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
22        1. Second division vehicles designed and used for
23    towing or hoisting vehicles; furthermore, such lights
24    shall not be lighted except as required in this paragraph
25    1; such lights shall be lighted when such vehicles are
26    actually being used at the scene of an accident or

 

 

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1    disablement; if the towing vehicle is equipped with a flat
2    bed that supports all wheels of the vehicle being
3    transported, the lights shall not be lighted while the
4    vehicle is engaged in towing on a highway; if the towing
5    vehicle is not equipped with a flat bed that supports all
6    wheels of a vehicle being transported, the lights shall be
7    lighted while the towing vehicle is engaged in towing on a
8    highway during all times when the use of headlights is
9    required under Section 12-201 of this Code; in addition,
10    these vehicles may use white oscillating, rotating, or
11    flashing lights in combination with amber oscillating,
12    rotating, or flashing lights as provided in this paragraph;
13        2. Motor vehicles or equipment of the State of
14    Illinois, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, local
15    authorities and contractors; furthermore, such lights
16    shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are engaged
17    in maintenance or construction operations within the
18    limits of construction projects;
19        3. Vehicles or equipment used by engineering or survey
20    crews; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except
21    while such vehicles are actually engaged in work on a
22    highway;
23        4. Vehicles of public utilities, municipalities, or
24    other construction, maintenance or automotive service
25    vehicles except that such lights shall be lighted only as a
26    means for indicating the presence of a vehicular traffic

 

 

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1    hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking
2    or passing while such vehicles are engaged in maintenance,
3    service or construction on a highway;
4        5. Oversized vehicle or load; however, such lights
5    shall only be lighted when moving under permit issued by
6    the Department under Section 15-301 of this Code;
7        6. The front and rear of motorized equipment owned and
8    operated by the State of Illinois or any political
9    subdivision thereof, which is designed and used for removal
10    of snow and ice from highways;
11        6.1. The front and rear of motorized equipment or
12    vehicles that (i) are not owned by the State of Illinois or
13    any political subdivision of the State, (ii) are designed
14    and used for removal of snow and ice from highways and
15    parking lots, and (iii) are equipped with a snow plow that
16    is 12 feet in width; these lights may not be lighted except
17    when the motorized equipment or vehicle is actually being
18    used for those purposes on behalf of a unit of government;
19        7. Fleet safety vehicles registered in another state,
20    furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except as
21    provided for in Section 12-212 of this Code;
22        8. Such other vehicles as may be authorized by local
23    authorities;
24        9. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
25    authorities when used in combination with red oscillating,
26    rotating or flashing lights;

 

 

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1        9.5. Propane delivery trucks;
2        10. Vehicles used for collecting or delivering mail for
3    the United States Postal Service provided that such lights
4    shall not be lighted except when such vehicles are actually
5    being used for such purposes;
6        10.5. Vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
7    Marshal, provided that such lights shall not be lighted
8    except for when such vehicles are engaged in work for the
9    Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal;
10        11. Any vehicle displaying a slow-moving vehicle
11    emblem as provided in Section 12-205.1;
12        12. All trucks equipped with self-compactors or
13    roll-off hoists and roll-on containers for garbage or
14    refuse hauling. Such lights shall not be lighted except
15    when such vehicles are actually being used for such
16    purposes;
17        13. Vehicles used by a security company, alarm
18    responder, control agency, or the Illinois Department of
19    Corrections;
20        14. Security vehicles of the Department of Human
21    Services; however, the lights shall not be lighted except
22    when being used for security related purposes under the
23    direction of the superintendent of the facility where the
24    vehicle is located; and
25        15. Vehicles of union representatives, except that the
26    lights shall be lighted only while the vehicle is within

 

 

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1    the limits of a construction project.
2    (c) The use of blue oscillating, rotating or flashing
3lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
4        1. Rescue squad vehicles not owned by a fire department
5    and vehicles owned or operated by a:
6            voluntary firefighter;
7            paid firefighter;
8            part-paid firefighter;
9            call firefighter;
10            member of the board of trustees of a fire
11        protection district;
12            paid or unpaid member of a rescue squad;
13            paid or unpaid member of a voluntary ambulance
14        unit; or
15            paid or unpaid members of a local or county
16        emergency management services agency as defined in the
17        Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, designated
18        or authorized by local authorities, in writing, and
19        carrying that designation or authorization in the
20        vehicle.
21        However, such lights are not to be lighted except when
22    responding to a bona fide emergency or when parked or
23    stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance
24    call, or motor vehicle accident.
25        Any person using these lights in accordance with this
26    subdivision (c)1 must carry on his or her person an

 

 

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1    identification card or letter identifying the bona fide
2    member of a fire department, fire protection district,
3    rescue squad, ambulance unit, or emergency management
4    services agency that owns or operates that vehicle. The
5    card or letter must include:
6            (A) the name of the fire department, fire
7        protection district, rescue squad, ambulance unit, or
8        emergency management services agency;
9            (B) the member's position within the fire
10        department, fire protection district, rescue squad,
11        ambulance unit, or emergency management services
12        agency;
13            (C) the member's term of service; and
14            (D) the name of a person within the fire
15        department, fire protection district, rescue squad,
16        ambulance unit, or emergency management services
17        agency to contact to verify the information provided.
18        2. Police department vehicles in cities having a
19    population of 500,000 or more inhabitants.
20        3. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
21    authorities when used in combination with red oscillating,
22    rotating or flashing lights.
23        4. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
24    federal firefighting vehicles when used in combination
25    with red oscillating, rotating or flashing lights.
26        5. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively as

 

 

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1    ambulances or rescue vehicles when used in combination with
2    red oscillating, rotating or flashing lights; furthermore,
3    such lights shall not be lighted except when responding to
4    an emergency call.
5        6. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as
6    organ transport vehicles when used in combination with red
7    oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights; furthermore,
8    these lights shall only be lighted when the transportation
9    is declared an emergency by a member of the transplant team
10    or a representative of the organ procurement organization.
11        7. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management
12    Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
13    Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public
14    Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of
15    Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of
16    Juvenile Justice, when used in combination with red
17    oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
18        8. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
19    management services agency as defined in the Illinois
20    Emergency Management Agency Act, when used in combination
21    with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
22        9. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
23    Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives
24    emergency response, when used in combination with red
25    oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
26    (c-1) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or

 

 

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1flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and
2notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a
3voluntary firefighter, a voluntary member of a rescue squad, or
4a member of a voluntary ambulance unit may be equipped with
5flashing white headlights and blue grill lights, which may be
6used only in responding to an emergency call or when parked or
7stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance call,
8or motor vehicle accident.
9    (c-2) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or
10flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and
11notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a paid or
12unpaid member of a local or county emergency management
13services agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency Management
14Agency Act, may be equipped with white oscillating, rotating,
15or flashing lights to be used in combination with blue
16oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, if authorization by
17local authorities is in writing and carried in the vehicle.
18    (d) The use of a combination of amber and white
19oscillating, rotating or flashing lights, whether lighted or
20unlighted, is prohibited except on second division vehicles
21designed and used for towing or hoisting vehicles or motor
22vehicles or equipment of the State of Illinois, local
23authorities, contractors, and union representatives;
24furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on second
25division vehicles designed and used for towing or hoisting
26vehicles or vehicles of the State of Illinois, local

 

 

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1authorities, and contractors except while such vehicles are
2engaged in a tow operation, highway maintenance, or
3construction operations within the limits of highway
4construction projects, and shall not be lighted on the vehicles
5of union representatives except when those vehicles are within
6the limits of a construction project.
7    (e) All oscillating, rotating or flashing lights referred
8to in this Section shall be of sufficient intensity, when
9illuminated, to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.
10    (f) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a manufacturer
11of oscillating, rotating or flashing lights or his
12representative or authorized vendor from temporarily mounting
13such lights on a vehicle for demonstration purposes only. If
14the lights are not covered while the vehicle is operated upon a
15highway, the vehicle shall display signage indicating that the
16vehicle is out of service or not an emergency vehicle. The
17signage shall be displayed on all sides of the vehicle in
18letters at least 2 inches tall and one-half inch wide. A
19vehicle authorized to have oscillating, rotating, or flashing
20lights mounted for demonstration purposes may not activate the
21lights while the vehicle is operated upon a highway.
22    (g) Any person violating the provisions of subsections (a),
23(b), (c) or (d) of this Section who without lawful authority
24stops or detains or attempts to stop or detain another person
25shall be guilty of a Class 2 felony.
26    (h) Except as provided in subsection (g) above, any person

 

 

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1violating the provisions of subsections (a) or (c) of this
2Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
3(Source: P.A. 97-39, eff. 1-1-12; 97-149, eff. 7-14-11; 97-813,
4eff. 7-13-12; 97-1173, eff. 1-1-14; 98-80, eff. 7-15-13;
598-123, eff. 1-1-14; 98-468, eff. 8-16-13; 98-756, eff.
67-16-14; 98-873, eff. 1-1-15; revised 10-6-14.)".