Bill Text: IL HB5119 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles operated by a voluntary firefighter may be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell (rather than only allowing authorized emergency or organ transplant vehicles to use a siren, whistle, or bell).

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-15 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB5119 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HB5119-Introduced.html

---

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2009 and 2010 HB5119 Introduced 1/29/2010, by Rep. Chapin Rose SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
625 ILCS 5/12-601 from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-601
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that vehicles operated by a voluntary firefighter may be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell (rather than only allowing authorized emergency or organ transplant vehicles to use a siren, whistle, or bell).
LRB096 18335 AJT 33712 b
A BILL FOR
HB5119 LRB096 18335 AJT 33712 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
Section 12-601 as follows:
(625 ILCS 5/12-601) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-601)
Sec. 12-601. Horns and warning devices.
(a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall
be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of
emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance
of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device
shall emit an unreasonable loud or harsh sound or a whistle.
The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary
to insure safe operation give audible warning with his horn but
shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a highway.
(b) No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person
use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle, or bell, except as
otherwise permitted in this section. Any authorized emergency
vehicle, vehicles operated by a voluntary firefighter, or organ
transport vehicle as defined in Chapter 1 of this Act may be
equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting
sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not
less than 500 feet, but such siren, whistle or bell, shall not

HB5119 - 2 - LRB096 18335 AJT 33712 b
be used except when such vehicle is operated in response to an
emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or
suspected violator of the law in either of which events the
driver of such vehicle shall sound such siren, whistle or bell,
when necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the
approach thereof.
(c) Trackless trolley coaches, as defined by Section 1-206
of this Code, and replica trolleys, as defined by Section
1-171.04 of this Code, may be equipped with a bell or bells in
lieu of a horn, and may, in addition to the requirements of
paragraph (a) of this Section, use a bell or bells for the
purpose of indicating arrival or departure at designated stops
during the hours of scheduled operation.
(Source: P.A. 89-345, eff. 1-1-96; 89-687, eff. 6-1-97; 90-347,
eff. 1-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)