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Illinois Compiled Statutes

Information maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Updating the database of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) is an ongoing process. Recent laws may not yet be included in the ILCS database, but they are found on this site as Public Acts soon after they become law. For information concerning the relationship between statutes and Public Acts, refer to the Guide.

Because the statute database is maintained primarily for legislative drafting purposes, statutory changes are sometimes included in the statute database before they take effect. If the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that has not yet taken effect, the version of the law that is currently in effect may have already been removed from the database and you should refer to that Public Act to see the changes made to the current law.


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625 ILCS 5/12-215

    (625 ILCS 5/12-215)
    Sec. 12-215. Oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights on motor vehicles. Except as otherwise provided in this Code:
    (a) The use of red or white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
        1. Law enforcement vehicles of State, federal, or
    
local authorities;
        2. A vehicle operated by a police officer or county
    
coroner and designated or authorized by local authorities, in writing, as a law enforcement vehicle; however, such designation or authorization must be carried in the vehicle;
        2.1. A vehicle operated by a fire chief, deputy fire
    
chief, or assistant fire chief who has completed an emergency vehicle operation training course approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and designated or authorized by local authorities, fire departments, or fire protection districts, in writing, as a fire department, fire protection district, or township fire department vehicle; however, the designation or authorization must be carried in the vehicle, and the lights may be visible or activated only when responding to a bona fide emergency;
        3. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
    
federal firefighting vehicles;
        4. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively
    
as ambulances or rescue vehicles; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency call for and while actually conveying the sick or injured;
        4.5. Vehicles which are occasionally used as rescue
    
vehicles that have been authorized for use as rescue vehicles by a volunteer EMS provider, provided that the operator of the vehicle has successfully completed an emergency vehicle operation training course recognized by the Department of Public Health; furthermore, the lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency call for the sick or injured;
        5. Tow trucks licensed in a state that requires such
    
lights; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on any such tow truck while the tow truck is operating in the State of Illinois;
        6. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management
    
Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice;
        7. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
    
management services agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act;
        8. School buses operating alternately flashing head
    
lamps as permitted under Section 12-805 of this Code;
        9. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as
    
organ transplant vehicles when used in combination with blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights; furthermore, these lights shall be lighted only when the transportation is declared an emergency by a member of the transplant team or a representative of the organ procurement organization;
        10. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
    
Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives emergency response;
        11. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of
    
Transportation identified as Emergency Traffic Patrol; the lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency call or when parked or stationary while engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the emergency; and
        12. Vehicles of the Illinois State Toll Highway
    
Authority with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 pounds or more and those identified as Highway Emergency Lane Patrol; the lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency call or when parked or stationary while engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the emergency.
    (b) The use of amber oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
        1. Second division vehicles designed and used for
    
towing or hoisting vehicles; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except as required in this paragraph 1; such lights shall be lighted when such vehicles are actually being used at the scene of a crash or disablement; if the towing vehicle is equipped with a flat bed that supports all wheels of the vehicle being transported, the lights shall not be lighted while the vehicle is engaged in towing on a highway; if the towing vehicle is not equipped with a flat bed that supports all wheels of a vehicle being transported, the lights shall be lighted while the towing vehicle is engaged in towing on a highway during all times when the use of headlights is required under Section 12-201 of this Code; in addition, these vehicles may use white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights in combination with amber oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights as provided in this paragraph;
        2. Motor vehicles or equipment of the State of
    
Illinois, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, local authorities, and contractors; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are engaged in maintenance or construction operations within the limits of construction projects;
        3. Vehicles or equipment used by engineering or
    
survey crews; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are actually engaged in work on a highway;
        4. Vehicles of public utilities, municipalities, or
    
other construction, maintenance, or automotive service vehicles except that such lights shall be lighted only as a means for indicating the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing while such vehicles are engaged in maintenance, service, or construction on a highway;
        5. Oversized vehicle or load; however, such lights
    
shall only be lighted when moving under permit issued by the Department under Section 15-301 of this Code;
        6. The front and rear of motorized equipment owned
    
and operated by the State of Illinois or any political subdivision thereof, which is designed and used for removal of snow and ice from highways;
        6.1. The front and rear of motorized equipment or
    
vehicles that (i) are not owned by the State of Illinois or any political subdivision of the State, (ii) are designed and used for removal of snow and ice from highways and parking lots, and (iii) are equipped with a snow plow that is 12 feet in width; these lights may not be lighted except when the motorized equipment or vehicle is actually being used for those purposes on behalf of a unit of government;
        7. Fleet safety vehicles registered in another state,
    
furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except as provided for in Section 12-212 of this Code;
        8. Such other vehicles as may be authorized by local
    
authorities;
        9. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
    
authorities when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights;
        9.5. Propane delivery trucks;
        10. Vehicles used for collecting or delivering mail
    
for the United States Postal Service provided that such lights shall not be lighted except when such vehicles are actually being used for such purposes;
        10.5. Vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State
    
Fire Marshal, provided that such lights shall not be lighted except for when such vehicles are engaged in work for the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal;
        11. Any vehicle displaying a slow-moving vehicle
    
emblem as provided in Section 12-205.1;
        12. All trucks equipped with self-compactors or
    
roll-off hoists and roll-on containers for garbage, recycling, or refuse hauling. Such lights shall not be lighted except when such vehicles are actually being used for such purposes;
        13. Vehicles used by a security company, alarm
    
responder, control agency, or the Illinois Department of Corrections;
        14. Security vehicles of the Department of Human
    
Services; however, the lights shall not be lighted except when being used for security related purposes under the direction of the superintendent of the facility where the vehicle is located; and
        15. Vehicles of union representatives, except that
    
the lights shall be lighted only while the vehicle is within the limits of a construction project.
    (c) The use of blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
        1. Rescue squad vehicles not owned by a fire
    
department or fire protection district and vehicles owned or operated by a:
            voluntary firefighter;
            paid firefighter;
            part-paid firefighter;
            call firefighter;
            member of the board of trustees of a fire
        
protection district;
            paid or unpaid member of a rescue squad;
            paid or unpaid member of a voluntary ambulance
        
unit; or
            paid or unpaid members of a local or county
        
emergency management services agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, designated or authorized by local authorities, in writing, and carrying that designation or authorization in the vehicle.
        However, such lights are not to be lighted except
    
when responding to a bona fide emergency or when parked or stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance call, or motor vehicle crash.
        Any person using these lights in accordance with this
    
subdivision (c)1 must carry on his or her person an identification card or letter identifying the bona fide member of a fire department, fire protection district, rescue squad, ambulance unit, or emergency management services agency that owns or operates that vehicle. The card or letter must include:
            (A) the name of the fire department, fire
        
protection district, rescue squad, ambulance unit, or emergency management services agency;
            (B) the member's position within the fire
        
department, fire protection district, rescue squad, ambulance unit, or emergency management services agency;
            (C) the member's term of service; and
            (D) the name of a person within the fire
        
department, fire protection district, rescue squad, ambulance unit, or emergency management services agency to contact to verify the information provided.
        2. Police department vehicles in cities having a
    
population of 500,000 or more inhabitants.
        3. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
    
authorities when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
        4. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
    
federal firefighting vehicles when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
        5. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively
    
as ambulances or rescue vehicles when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency call.
        6. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as
    
organ transport vehicles when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights; furthermore, these lights shall only be lighted when the transportation is declared an emergency by a member of the transplant team or a representative of the organ procurement organization.
        7. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management
    
Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
        8. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
    
management services agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
        9. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
    
Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives emergency response, when used in combination with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
    (c-1) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a voluntary firefighter, a voluntary member of a rescue squad, or a member of a voluntary ambulance unit may be equipped with flashing white headlights and blue grill lights, which may be used only in responding to an emergency call or when parked or stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance call, or motor vehicle crash.
    (c-2) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a paid or unpaid member of a local or county emergency management services agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, may be equipped with white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights to be used in combination with blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, if authorization by local authorities is in writing and carried in the vehicle.
    (d) The use of a combination of amber and white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on second division vehicles designed and used for towing or hoisting vehicles or motor vehicles or equipment of the State of Illinois, local authorities, contractors, and union representatives; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on second division vehicles designed and used for towing or hoisting vehicles or vehicles of the State of Illinois, local authorities, and contractors except while such vehicles are engaged in a tow operation, highway maintenance, or construction operations within the limits of highway construction projects, and shall not be lighted on the vehicles of union representatives except when those vehicles are within the limits of a construction project.
    (e) All oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights referred to in this Section shall be of sufficient intensity, when illuminated, to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.
    (f) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a manufacturer of oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights or his representative or authorized vendor from temporarily mounting such lights on a vehicle for demonstration purposes only. If the lights are not covered while the vehicle is operated upon a highway, the vehicle shall display signage indicating that the vehicle is out of service or not an emergency vehicle. The signage shall be displayed on all sides of the vehicle in letters at least 2 inches tall and one-half inch wide. A vehicle authorized to have oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights mounted for demonstration purposes may not activate the lights while the vehicle is operated upon a highway.
    (g) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this Section who without lawful authority stops or detains or attempts to stop or detain another person shall be guilty of a Class 2 felony.
    (h) Except as provided in subsection (g) above, any person violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (c) of this Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(Source: P.A. 102-842, eff. 1-1-23; 102-982, eff. 7-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

625 ILCS 5/12-215.1

    (625 ILCS 5/12-215.1)
    Sec. 12-215.1. Possession of oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights in motor vehicles; police equipment, markings, and other indicia of emergency vehicle authority.
    (a) A person, except those given exceptions in Section 12-215 or 12-609 of this Code, may not possess or be in actual physical control of oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights or other indicia of emergency vehicle authority within any portion of a motor vehicle, including but not limited to wig-wags, red and blue LEDs, sirens, mounted or affixed devices or other equipment, markings or indicia of emergency vehicle authority.
    (b) A person found guilty of violating this Section is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
    (c) Oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights and any other equipment, markings, or indicia of emergency vehicle authority shall be seized by the law enforcement officer at the time of a violation of this Section or of Section 12-215 or 12-609 of this Code upon any legal search. The officer may seize the vehicle containing the prohibited device or mechanism, and this device or mechanism shall be removed and held for evidentiary purposes. When the device or mechanism is no longer needed for evidence, the defendant may petition the court for the return of the device or mechanism. The defendant must prove to the court by a preponderance of the evidence that the device or mechanism will be used for a legitimate and lawful purpose.
(Source: P.A. 98-468, eff. 8-16-13.)

625 ILCS 5/12-216

    (625 ILCS 5/12-216) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-216)
    Sec. 12-216. Operation of oscillating, rotating or flashing lights. Oscillating, rotating or flashing lights located on or within police vehicles in this State shall be lighted whenever a police officer is in pursuit of a violator of a traffic law or regulation.
(Source: P.A. 85-830.)

625 ILCS 5/12-217

    (625 ILCS 5/12-217) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-217)
    Sec. 12-217. Special lighting equipment for interstate transportation authority. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, an interstate transportation authority, as defined in this Section, in addition to headlights and other required or authorized lighting, may affix to the top front of its buses, 2 sets of lights, each containing up to 5 stationary lights, of different colors, including the colors white, yellow, blue, green and purple, and excepting, however, the color red. Such lights shall be located symmetrically above the windshield with one set of lights on each side of the headsign and may reflect an intensity of up to 64 candlepower each. Provided further however, that normally no more than 3 of such colored lights on each set of lights may be on or displayed at any one time. Such lights shall be stationary only, and shall not be oscillating, rotating, or flashing. The lights shall be displayed only on the top front of such buses, lighted in various combinations to indicate the route, the destination, and the express or local nature of the service.
    (b) As used herein, the term "interstate transportation authority" shall mean any body, agency, entity, or political subdivision created by compact between Illinois and another state, which is a body corporate and politic, and which operates a public mass transportation or transit system.
(Source: P.A. 85-1144.)

625 ILCS 5/12-218

    (625 ILCS 5/12-218)
    Sec. 12-218. Auxiliary accent lighting on motorcycles.
    (a) A motorcycle registered in this State may be equipped with, and a person operating the motorcycle may use, standard bulb running lights or light-emitting diode (L.E.D.) pods and strips as auxiliary lighting with the intent of protecting the driver.
    (b) Auxiliary lighting authorized under subsection (a) of this Section:
        (1) shall not project a beam of light of an
    
intensity greater than 25 candlepower or its equivalent from a single lamp or single light-emitting diode (L.E.D.);
        (2) shall not be directed horizontally;
        (3) shall be so directed that no part of the beam
    
will strike the level of the surface on which the motorcycle stands at a distance of more than 10 feet from the motorcycle;
        (4) shall be directed towards the ground;
        (5) shall not emit blue light, but may emit red
    
light only while the stop lamp on the motorcycle is illuminated and motorcycle is in the course of braking;
        (6) shall not be:
            (A) blinking;
            (B) flashing;
            (C) oscillating; or
            (D) rotating; and
        (7) shall not be attached to the wheels of the
    
motorcycle.
(Source: P.A. 103-374, eff. 1-1-24.)