Public Act 103-0667
 
HB4255 EnrolledLRB103 34476 MXP 64307 b

    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 Sections 11-213, 11-907, and 12-215 as follows:
 
    (625 ILCS 5/11-213)
    Sec. 11-213. Power of a fire department officer; highway
or lane closure. In the absence of a law enforcement officer or
a representative of the highway agency having jurisdiction
over the highway, an officer of a fire department, in the
performance of his or her official duties, has the authority
to close to traffic a highway, or a lane or lanes of a highway,
as necessary to protect the safety of persons or property. In
order to promote the safe implementation of this Section, the
fire department officer shall utilize an official fire
department vehicle with lighted red or white oscillating,
rotating, or flashing lights in accordance with Section 12-215
of this Code and proper temporary traffic control in
accordance with the sections of the Illinois Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices concerning temporary traffic control
and incident management. The officer should also receive
training in safe practices for accomplishing these tasks near
traffic. This Section does not apply to highways under the
jurisdiction of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. As
used in this Section, "highway" has the meaning set forth in
Section 1-126 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 95-803, eff. 1-1-09.)
 
    (625 ILCS 5/11-907)  (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-907)
    Sec. 11-907. Operation of vehicles and streetcars on
approach of authorized emergency vehicles.
    (a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency
vehicle making use of audible and visual signals meeting the
requirements of this Code or a police vehicle properly and
lawfully making use of an audible or visual signal:
        (1) the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the
    right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position
    parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand
    edge or curb of the highway clear of any intersection and
    shall, if necessary to permit the safe passage of the
    emergency vehicle, stop and remain in such position until
    the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless
    otherwise directed by a police officer; and
        (2) the operator of every streetcar shall immediately
    stop such car clear of any intersection and keep it in such
    position until the authorized emergency vehicle has
    passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
    (b) This Section shall not operate to relieve the driver
of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with
due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
    (c) Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency
vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is giving a
visual signal by displaying oscillating, rotating, or
alternately flashing lights as authorized under Section 12-215
of this Code red, red and white, blue, or red and blue lights
or amber or yellow warning lights, a person who drives an
approaching vehicle shall:
        (1) proceeding with due caution, yield the
    right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not
    adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if
    possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions,
    if on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not less than
    2 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the
    approaching vehicle; or
        (2) if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe,
    proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the
    vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions and
    leaving a safe distance until safely past the stationary
    emergency vehicles.
    The visual signal specified under this subsection (c)
given by an authorized emergency vehicle is an indication to
drivers of approaching vehicles that a hazardous condition is
present when circumstances are not immediately clear. Drivers
of vehicles approaching a stationary emergency vehicle in any
lane shall heed the warning of the signal, reduce the speed of
the vehicle, proceed with due caution, maintain a safe speed
for road conditions, be prepared to stop, and leave a safe
distance until safely passed the stationary emergency vehicle.
    As used in this subsection (c), "authorized emergency
vehicle" includes any vehicle authorized by law to be equipped
with oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights under Section
12-215 of this Code, while the owner or operator of the vehicle
is engaged in his or her official duties.
    (d) A person who violates subsection (c) of this Section
commits a business offense punishable by a fine of not less
than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first violation, and a
fine of not less than $750 or more than $10,000 for a second or
subsequent violation. It is a factor in aggravation if the
person committed the offense while in violation of Section
11-501, 12-610.1, or 12-610.2 of this Code. Imposition of the
penalties authorized by this subsection (d) for a violation of
subsection (c) of this Section that results in the death of
another person does not preclude imposition of appropriate
additional civil or criminal penalties. A person who violates
subsection (c) and the violation results in damage to another
vehicle commits a Class A misdemeanor. A person who violates
subsection (c) and the violation results in the injury or
death of another person commits a Class 4 felony.
    (e) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section
results in damage to the property of another person, in
addition to any other penalty imposed, the person's driving
privileges shall be suspended for a fixed period of not less
than 90 days and not more than one year.
    (f) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section
results in injury to another person, in addition to any other
penalty imposed, the person's driving privileges shall be
suspended for a fixed period of not less than 180 days and not
more than 2 years.
    (g) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section
results in the death of another person, in addition to any
other penalty imposed, the person's driving privileges shall
be suspended for 2 years.
    (h) The Secretary of State shall, upon receiving a record
of a judgment entered against a person under subsection (c) of
this Section:
        (1) suspend the person's driving privileges for the
    mandatory period; or
        (2) extend the period of an existing suspension by the
    appropriate mandatory period.
    (i) The Scott's Law Fund shall be a special fund in the
State treasury. Subject to appropriation by the General
Assembly and approval by the Director, the Director of the
State Police shall use all moneys in the Scott's Law Fund in
the Department's discretion to fund the production of
materials to educate drivers on approaching stationary
authorized emergency vehicles, to hire off-duty Illinois
Department of State Police for enforcement of this Section,
and for other law enforcement purposes the Director deems
necessary in these efforts.
    (j) For violations of this Section issued by a county or
municipal police officer, the assessment shall be deposited
into the county's or municipality's Transportation Safety
Highway Hire-back Fund. The county shall use the moneys in its
Transportation Safety Highway Hire-back Fund to hire off-duty
county police officers to monitor construction or maintenance
zones in that county on highways other than interstate
highways. The county, in its discretion, may also use a
portion of the moneys in its Transportation Safety Highway
Hire-back Fund to purchase equipment for county law
enforcement and fund the production of materials to educate
drivers on construction zone safe driving habits and
approaching stationary authorized emergency vehicles.
    (k) In addition to other penalties imposed by this
Section, the court may order a person convicted of a violation
of subsection (c) to perform community service as determined
by the court.
(Source: P.A. 101-173, eff. 1-1-20; 102-336, eff. 1-1-22;
102-338, eff. 1-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
    (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.
    (d-5) The use of green oscillating, flashing, or rotating
lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
        1. Second division vehicles designed and used for
    towing or hoisting vehicles when the lights on those
    vehicles are used in combination with amber or amber and
    white oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights;
    furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except when
    such vehicles are actually being used at the scene of a
    crash or disablement.
        2. Motor vehicles or equipment of the State of
    Illinois when the lights on those vehicles or equipment
    are used in combination with amber or amber and white
    oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights; furthermore,
    such lights shall not be lighted except while such
    vehicles or equipment are engaged in maintenance
    operations, snow and ice removal operations, or performing
    traffic control and protection duties while at an
    emergency scene.
        3. Motor vehicles of the Department of Transportation
    identified as Emergency Traffic Patrol when the lights on
    those vehicles are used in combination with red and white
    oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights when responding
    to an emergency call or when parked or stationary while
    engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at an emergency
    scene.
        4. Motor vehicles of the Illinois State Toll Highway
    Authority when the lights on those vehicles are used in
    combination with amber oscillating, flashing, or rotating
    lights; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted
    except while such vehicles are engaged in maintenance
    operations, snow and ice removal operations, or performing
    traffic control and protection duties while at an
    emergency scene.
        5. Motor 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 when the lights on those vehicles are used in
    combination with red and white oscillating, flashing, or
    rotating lights when responding to an emergency call or
    when parked or stationary while engaged in motor vehicle
    assistance or at the scene of the emergency.
        6. Motor vehicles or equipment of local authority or
    municipalities which perform highway maintenance
    operations, when the lights on those vehicles are used in
    combination with amber or amber and white oscillating,
    flashing, or rotating lights; furthermore, such lights
    shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are
    engaged in the maintenance operations, snow and ice
    removal operations, or performing traffic control and
    protection duties while at an emergency scene.
        7. Fire department vehicles of local fire departments
    and State or federal firefighting vehicles when the lights
    on those vehicles are used in combination with red, or red
    and white, or red and blue, oscillating, rotating, or
    flashing lights.
        8. Vehicles used by a security company when the lights
    on those vehicles are used in combination with amber
    oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights; furthermore,
    such lights shall not be lighted except when the vehicle
    is being operated upon the property or location where the
    security company is employed to perform security or crime
    prevention duties.
        9. Ambulances or rescue vehicles operating in counties
    with populations of less than 2,000,000.
    (d-10) Fire department vehicles of local fire departments
and State or federal firefighting vehicles, police vehicles of
State, federal, or local authorities, and vehicles designated
by local or State authority, while parked at an emergency
scene, may use a steady-on illumination or steady-burn, or
flashing green beacon or beacons if such steady-on,
steady-burn, or flashing beacon is used to indicate an
emergency operations command post or incident command
location.
    (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), (d-5), or (d-10)
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.)