Bill Text: IA SF2093 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to the operation of rescue vehicles when responding to an emergency, and making penalties applicable. (See SF 2232.)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-30 - Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage. [SF2093 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2017-SF2093-Introduced.html

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Senate File 2093 - Introduced




                                 SENATE FILE       
                                 BY  SCHNEIDER

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to the operation of rescue vehicles when
  2    responding to an emergency, and making penalties applicable.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
    TLSB 5683XS (3) 87
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PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 321.231, subsections 3 and 4, Code 2018,
  1  2 are amended to read as follows:
  1  3    3.  The driver of a fire department vehicle, police
  1  4 vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance, or a peace officer
  1  5 riding a police bicycle in the line of duty, may do any of the
  1  6 following:
  1  7    a.  Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only
  1  8 after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.
  1  9    b.  Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver
  1 10 does not endanger life or property.
  1 11    4.  The exemptions granted to an authorized emergency
  1 12 vehicle under subsection 2 and for to a fire department
  1 13 vehicle, police vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance as
  1 14 provided in subsection 3 shall apply only when such vehicle
  1 15 is making use of an audible signaling device meeting the
  1 16 requirements of section 321.433 or a visual signaling device,
  1 17 except that use of an audible or visual signaling device shall
  1 18 not be required when exercising the exemption granted under
  1 19 subsection 3, paragraph "b", of this section when the vehicle is
  1 20 operated by a peace officer, pursuing a suspected violator of
  1 21 the speed restrictions imposed by or pursuant to this chapter,
  1 22  for the purpose of determining the speed of travel of such
  1 23 suspected violator.
  1 24                           EXPLANATION
  1 25 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
  1 26 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly.
  1 27    Under current law, the driver of an authorized emergency
  1 28 vehicle may exercise certain driving privileges relating to
  1 29 parking and directional signs when responding to an emergency
  1 30 call. In addition, certain types of authorized emergency
  1 31 vehicles including fire department vehicles, police vehicles,
  1 32 and ambulances, as well as peace officers riding on police
  1 33 bicycles, may proceed past red stop signals or stop signs
  1 34 and exceed speed limits while exercising necessary safety
  1 35 precautions and using an audible or visual signal.  This bill
  2  1 includes rescue vehicles in the list of authorized emergency
  2  2 vehicles that may ignore red stop signals or stop signs and
  2  3 exceed speed limits in emergency situations.  Under Code
  2  4 section 321.1, a "rescue vehicle" is a motor vehicle which is
  2  5 equipped with rescue, fire, or life support equipment used to
  2  6 assist and rescue persons in emergencies or support emergency
  2  7 personnel in the performance of their duties. Under current
  2  8 law, a violation of Code section 321.231 is punishable by a
  2  9 scheduled fine of $100.
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