Bill Text: IA SF2232 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to the operation of rescue vehicles when responding to an emergency, and making penalties applicable. (Formerly SF 2093.)
Sponsorship: Committee Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-07 - Withdrawn. S.J. 575. [SF2232 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2017-SF2232-Introduced.html
Senate File 2232 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (SUCCESSOR TO SF 2093) (COMPANION TO LSb 5914HV BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION) 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 5683SV (4) 87 ns/rh PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 321.1, subsection 62, Code 2018, is 1 2 amended to read as follows: 1 3 62. "Rescue vehicle" means a motor vehicle which is equipped 1 4 with rescue, fire,orlife support, hazardous material, or 1 5 emergency management equipment used to assist and rescue 1 6 persons in emergencies or support emergency personnel in the 1 7 performance of their duties. 1 8 Sec. 2. Section 321.231, subsections 3 and 4, Code 2018, are 1 9 amended to read as follows: 1 10 3. The driver of a fire department vehicle, police 1 11 vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance, or a peace officer 1 12 riding a police bicycle in the line of duty, may do any of the 1 13 following: 1 14 a. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only 1 15 after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation. 1 16 b. Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver 1 17 does not endanger life or property. 1 18 4. The exemptions granted to an authorized emergency 1 19 vehicle under subsection 2 andforto a fire department 1 20 vehicle, police vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance as 1 21 provided in subsection 3 shall apply only when such vehicle 1 22 is making use of an audible signaling device meeting the 1 23 requirements of section 321.433 or a visual signaling device, 1 24 except that use of an audible or visual signaling device shall 1 25 not be required when exercising the exemption granted under 1 26 subsection 3, paragraph "b",of this sectionwhen the vehicle is 1 27 operated by a peace officer,pursuing a suspected violator of 1 28 the speed restrictions imposed by or pursuant to this chapter,1 29 for the purpose of determining the speed of travel of such 1 30 suspected violator. 1 31 EXPLANATION 1 32 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 33 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 1 34 Under current law, a "rescue vehicle" is a motor vehicle 1 35 which is equipped with rescue, fire, or life support equipment 2 1 used to assist and rescue persons in emergencies or support 2 2 emergency personnel in the performance of their duties. This 2 3 bill amends current law to provide that "rescue vehicle" also 2 4 includes a motor vehicle which is equipped with hazardous 2 5 material or emergency management equipment used to assist and 2 6 rescue persons in emergencies or support emergency personnel in 2 7 the performance of their duties. 2 8 Under current law, the driver of an authorized emergency 2 9 vehicle may exercise certain driving privileges relating to 2 10 parking and directional signs when responding to an emergency 2 11 call. In addition, certain types of authorized emergency 2 12 vehicles including fire department vehicles, police vehicles, 2 13 and ambulances, as well as peace officers riding on police 2 14 bicycles, may proceed past red stop signals or stop signs 2 15 and exceed speed limits while exercising necessary safety 2 16 precautions and using an audible or visual signal. The bill 2 17 includes rescue vehicles in the list of authorized emergency 2 18 vehicles that may ignore red stop signals or stop signs and 2 19 exceed speed limits in emergency situations. Under current 2 20 law, a violation of Code section 321.231 is punishable by a 2 21 scheduled fine of $100. LSB 5683SV (4) 87 ns/rh
