101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5285

 

Introduced , by Rep. Daniel Swanson

 

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

    Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe upon approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, the approaching vehicle shall reduce the speed of the vehicle to 20 miles per hour lower than the posted speed limit.


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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 changing
5Section 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 of
3an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due
4regard 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 approaching
16    vehicle; or
17        (2) if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe,
18    proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the
19    vehicle to 20 miles per hour lower than the posted speed
20    limit, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions and
21    leaving a safe distance until safely past the stationary
22    vehicles.
23    As used in this subsection (c), "authorized emergency
24vehicle" includes any vehicle authorized by law to be equipped
25with oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights under Section
2612-215 of this Code, while the owner or operator of the vehicle

 

 

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1is engaged in his or her official duties.
2    (d) A person who violates subsection (c) of this Section
3commits a business offense punishable by a fine of not less
4than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first violation, and a
5fine of not less than $750 or more than $10,000 for a second or
6subsequent violation. It is a factor in aggravation if the
7person committed the offense while in violation of Section
811-501 of this Code. Imposition of the penalties authorized by
9this subsection (d) for a violation of subsection (c) of this
10Section that results in the death of another person does not
11preclude imposition of appropriate additional civil or
12criminal penalties. A person who violates subsection (c) and
13the violation results in damage to another vehicle commits a
14Class A misdemeanor. A person who violates subsection (c) and
15the violation results in the injury or death of another person
16commits a Class 4 felony.
17    (e) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section
18results in damage to the property of another person, in
19addition to any other penalty imposed, the person's driving
20privileges shall be suspended for a fixed period of not less
21than 90 days and not more than one year.
22    (f) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section
23results in injury to another person, in addition to any other
24penalty imposed, the person's driving privileges shall be
25suspended for a fixed period of not less than 180 days and not
26more than 2 years.

 

 

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1    (g) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section
2results in the death of another person, in addition to any
3other penalty imposed, the person's driving privileges shall be
4suspended for 2 years.
5    (h) The Secretary of State shall, upon receiving a record
6of a judgment entered against a person under subsection (c) of
7this Section:
8        (1) suspend the person's driving privileges for the
9    mandatory period; or
10        (2) extend the period of an existing suspension by the
11    appropriate mandatory period.
12    (i) The Scott's Law Fund shall be a special fund in the
13State treasury. Subject to appropriation by the General
14Assembly and approval by the Director, the Director of the
15State Police shall use all moneys in the Scott's Law Fund in
16the Department's discretion to fund the production of materials
17to educate drivers on approaching stationary authorized
18emergency vehicles, to hire off-duty Department of State Police
19for enforcement of this Section, and for other law enforcement
20purposes the Director deems necessary in these efforts.
21    (j) For violations of this Section issued by a county or
22municipal police officer, the assessment shall be deposited
23into the county's or municipality's Transportation Safety
24Highway Hire-back Fund. The county shall use the moneys in its
25Transportation Safety Highway Hire-back Fund to hire off-duty
26county police officers to monitor construction or maintenance

 

 

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1zones in that county on highways other than interstate
2highways. The county, in its discretion, may also use a portion
3of the moneys in its Transportation Safety Highway Hire-back
4Fund to purchase equipment for county law enforcement and fund
5the production of materials to educate drivers on construction
6zone safe driving habits and approaching stationary authorized
7emergency vehicles.
8(Source: P.A. 100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 101-173, eff. 1-1-20.)