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

1     AN ACT concerning transportation.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5 Section 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
9 be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of
10 emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance
11 of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device
12 shall emit an unreasonable loud or harsh sound or a whistle.
13 The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary
14 to insure safe operation give audible warning with his horn but
15 shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.
16     (b) No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person
17 use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle, or bell, except as
18 otherwise permitted in this section. Any authorized emergency
19 vehicle, vehicles operated by a voluntary firefighter, or organ
20 transport vehicle as defined in Chapter 1 of this Act may be
21 equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting
22 sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not
23 less than 500 feet, but such siren, whistle or bell, shall not

 

 

HB5119 - 2 - LRB096 18335 AJT 33712 b

1 be used except when such vehicle is operated in response to an
2 emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or
3 suspected violator of the law in either of which events the
4 driver of such vehicle shall sound such siren, whistle or bell,
5 when necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the
6 approach thereof.
7     (c) Trackless trolley coaches, as defined by Section 1-206
8 of this Code, and replica trolleys, as defined by Section
9 1-171.04 of this Code, may be equipped with a bell or bells in
10 lieu of a horn, and may, in addition to the requirements of
11 paragraph (a) of this Section, use a bell or bells for the
12 purpose of indicating arrival or departure at designated stops
13 during the hours of scheduled operation.
14 (Source: P.A. 89-345, eff. 1-1-96; 89-687, eff. 6-1-97; 90-347,
15 eff. 1-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)