100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
HB3469
 
Introduced , by Rep. Thomas M. Bennett
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

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

     Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Reinforces that a vehicle operated by a fire chief, a chief of police of a municipality, a sheriff of a county, or a chief emergency medical services officer may be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 500 feet.
  


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A BILL FOR
 

  
HB3469LRB100 10204 AXK 20386 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 changing 
5Section 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 but 
15shall 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, including, but not limited to, a vehicle operated by 
21a fire chief, a chief of police of a municipality, a sheriff of 
22a county, or a chief emergency medical services officer, Act 
23may be
equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of 
 
 
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1emitting sound audible
under normal conditions from a distance 
2of not less than 500 feet, but such
siren, whistle or bell, 
3shall not be used except when such vehicle is operated
in 
4response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit
of an 
5actual or
suspected violator of the law in either of which 
6events the driver of such
vehicle shall sound such siren, 
7whistle or bell, when necessary to warn
pedestrians and other 
8drivers of the approach thereof.

9    (c) Trackless trolley coaches, as defined by Section 1-206 
10of this Code,
and replica trolleys, as defined by Section 
111-171.04 of this Code, may
be equipped with a bell or bells in 
12lieu of a horn, and may, in addition to
the requirements of 
13paragraph (a) of this Section, use a bell or bells for the

14purpose of indicating arrival or departure at designated stops 
15during the hours
of scheduled operation.

16(Source: P.A. 89-345, eff. 1-1-96; 89-687, eff. 6-1-97; 90-347, 
17eff.
1-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)