HB5119 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 18335 AJT 33712 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5119

Introduced 1/29/2010, by Rep. Chapin Rose

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/12-601

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

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles operated by a voluntary firefighter may be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell (rather than only allowing authorized emergency or organ transplant vehicles to use a siren, whistle, or bell).

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing Section 12-601 as follows:

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

Sec. 12-601. Horns and warning devices.

(a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonable loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation give audible warning with his horn but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.

(b) No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle, or bell, except as otherwise permitted in this section. Any authorized emergency vehicle, vehicles operated by a voluntary firefighter, or organ transport vehicle as defined in Chapter 1 of this Act 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, but such siren, whistle or bell, shall not be used except when such vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law in either of which events the driver of such vehicle shall sound such siren, whistle or bell, when necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof.

(c) Trackless trolley coaches, as defined by Section 1-206 of this Code, and replica trolleys, as defined by Section 1-171.04 of this Code, may be equipped with a bell or bells in lieu of a horn, and may, in addition to the requirements of paragraph (a) of this Section, use a bell or bells for the purpose of indicating arrival or departure at designated stops during the hours of scheduled operation.

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