HB1276 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 06170 LNS 16204 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1276

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Rep. Maurice A. West, II

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/12-215
625 ILCS 5/12-601	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-601

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the use of red or white oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights or blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights on vehicles owned or operated by volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS providers, but only when responding to an emergency call or parked or stationary while engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the emergency. Allows a vehicle operated by a volunteer firefighter or volunteer EMS provider to be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, to be used only when responding to an emergency call.

A BILL FOR

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 12-215 and 12-601 as follows:

(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; and .

13. Vehicles owned or operated by volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS providers; the lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency call or 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.

10. Vehicles owned or operated by volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS providers; the lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency call or parked or stationary while engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the emergency.

(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), (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; 103-667, eff. 1-1-25.)

(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 or organ transport vehicle as defined in Chapter 1 of this Code or a vehicle operated by a fire chief, deputy fire chief, assistant fire chief, volunteer firefighter, volunteer EMS provider, or the Director or Coordinator of a municipal or county emergency services and disaster agency 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 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 subsection (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. 102-448, eff. 1-1-22.)