Bill Text: IL HB3513 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Radio Broadcast Safety Act. Provides that a radio broadcaster is prohibited from transmitting any siren or crash noise via over-the-air communication that may be heard by a driver. Provides a penalty for violation of this Act. Effective immediately.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-17 - Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Carol Sente [HB3513 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB3513-Introduced.html

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99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 HB3513 Introduced , by Rep. Robert F. Martwick SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Radio Broadcast Safety Act. Provides that a radio broadcaster is prohibited from transmitting any siren or crash noise via over-the-air communication that may be heard by a driver. Provides a penalty for violation of this Act. Effective immediately.
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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning safety.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Radio
Broadcast Safety Act.
Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that the
broadcast of sirens or noises replicating a vehicular collision
over the radio may cause drivers listening to the radio to
become distracted. These drivers may, upon hearing a siren or
vehicular crash on the radio, mistake the sound for an actual
siren or vehicular crash within the immediate vicinity of the
vehicle they are operating. These drivers may then engage in
unreasonable driving behaviors, such as pulling over abruptly
to clear the road for an emergency vehicle, or applying the
brakes suddenly to avoid a vehicular collision. These sudden
reactions may cause a safety hazard for the driver and others
drivers within the immediate vicinity. Therefore, the General
Assembly finds that prohibiting these noises from being
broadcast over the radio is necessary to protect the safety and
well-being of all drivers.
Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:
"Crash noise" means any sound transmitted by a radio

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broadcaster via an over-the-air communication that is
substantially similar to the sound of two or more vehicles
colliding. "Crash noises" include, but are not limited to,
screeching tires or screeching rubber, and glass or metal
colliding.
"Driver" means every person who drives or is in actual
physical control of a vehicle.
"Radio broadcaster" means a radio broadcasting station,
primarily engaged in, and deriving income from, the business of
facilitating speech via over-the-air communications, including
both pure speech and commercial speech.
"Siren" means any sound transmitted by a radio broadcaster
via an over-the-air communication that is substantially
similar to the sound of a police vehicle, fire vehicle,
ambulance, or other emergency vehicle that is high pitched in
tone and is used to alert drivers of the police vehicle, fire
vehicle, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle.
Section 15. Offense. A radio broadcaster is prohibited from
transmitting any siren or crash noise via over-the-air
communication that may be heard by a driver. This prohibition
includes advertisements transmitted by the radio broadcaster.
Section 20. Penalties. Whoever violates this Act is guilty
of a petty offense, and upon conviction thereof shall be
punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500

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for the first offense and not less than $500 nor more than
$1,000 for a second or subsequent offense.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.