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).
  















LRB096 18335 AJT 33712 b

















 


 


A BILL FOR









 




  






HB5119

LRB096 18335 AJT 33712 b





  
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    AN ACT concerning transportation.
  
 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
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    Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended  by changing 
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Section 12-601 as follows:
 



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



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    Sec. 12-601. Horns and warning devices. 

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    (a) Every motor vehicle when
operated upon a highway shall 
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be equipped with a horn in good working order
and capable of 
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emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance

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of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device 
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shall emit an
unreasonable loud or harsh sound or a whistle.  
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The driver of a motor vehicle
shall when reasonably necessary 
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to insure safe operation give audible warning
with his horn but 
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shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.

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    (b) No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person 
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use upon a
vehicle
any siren, whistle, or bell, except as 
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otherwise permitted in this section.
Any authorized emergency 
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vehicle, vehicles operated by a voluntary firefighter, or organ 
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transport vehicle as defined in
Chapter 1 of this Act may be

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equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting 
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sound audible
under normal conditions from a distance of not 
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less than 500 feet, but such
siren, whistle or bell, shall not 
 


 






HB5119
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LRB096 18335 AJT 33712 b




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be used except when such vehicle is operated
in response to an 
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emergency call or in the immediate pursuit
of an actual or

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suspected violator of the law in either of which events the 
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driver of such
vehicle shall sound such siren, whistle or bell, 
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when necessary to warn
pedestrians and other drivers of the 
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approach thereof.

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

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

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