Senate File 307 - Introduced




                                 SENATE FILE       
                                 BY  SCHNEIDER

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to rescue vehicles designated as authorized
  2    emergency vehicles, and making a penalty applicable.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
    TLSB 2379XS (3) 87
    ns/nh

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 321.231, subsections 3 and 4, Code 2017,
  1  2 are amended to read as follows:
  1  3    3.  The driver of a fire department vehicle, police vehicle,
  1  4 rescue vehicle, or ambulance, or a peace officer riding a
  1  5 police bicycle in the line of duty may do any of the following:
  1  6    a.  Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only
  1  7 after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.
  1  8    b.  Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver
  1  9 does not endanger life or property.
  1 10    4.  The exemptions granted to an authorized emergency
  1 11 vehicle under subsection 2 and for a fire department vehicle,
  1 12 police vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance as provided in
  1 13 subsection 3 shall apply only when such vehicle is making use
  1 14 of an audible signaling device meeting the requirements of
  1 15 section 321.433 or a visual signaling device, except that use
  1 16 of an audible or visual signaling device shall not be required
  1 17 when exercising the exemption granted under subsection 3,
  1 18 paragraph "b" of this section when the vehicle is operated by
  1 19 a peace officer, pursuing a suspected violator of the speed
  1 20 restrictions imposed by or pursuant to this chapter, for the
  1 21 purpose of determining the speed of travel of such suspected
  1 22 violator.
  1 23    Sec. 2.  Section 321.451, subsection 2, Code 2017, is amended
  1 24 to read as follows:
  1 25    2.  a.  The application for a certificate of designation
  1 26 must include the name of the owner of the vehicle, vehicle
  1 27 identification information, a description of the vehicle's
  1 28 equipment, and a description of how the vehicle will be used as
  1 29 an authorized emergency vehicle.
  1 30    b.  If the vehicle is a rescue vehicle, the application shall
  1 31 be accompanied by a letter of approval from the sheriff or
  1 32 emergency management coordinator of the county of the vehicle
  1 33 owner's residence. This paragraph "b" shall not apply to a
  1 34 rescue vehicle designated as an authorized emergency vehicle
  1 35 prior to July 1, 2017, or to any other rescue vehicle owned by a
  2  1 person who owns or has owned a rescue vehicle designated as an
  2  2 authorized emergency vehicle prior to July 1, 2017.
  2  3                           EXPLANATION
  2  4 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
  2  5 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly.
  2  6    Under current law, an authorized emergency vehicle that
  2  7 is a fire department vehicle, police vehicle, or ambulance,
  2  8 that is responding to an emergency call, in the pursuit of a
  2  9 perpetrator, operating in response to an incident dangerous to
  2 10 the public, or responding to a fire alarm, may proceed past
  2 11 a red light or stop sign after slowing down as necessary for
  2 12 the safe operation of the vehicle, and may exceed the maximum
  2 13 speed limits so long as the driver does not endanger life
  2 14 or property. This bill broadens that provision to include
  2 15 rescue vehicles. Under Code chapter 321, a "rescue vehicle"
  2 16 is a motor vehicle equipped with rescue, fire, or life support
  2 17 equipment used to assist and rescue persons in emergencies
  2 18 or support emergency personnel in the performance of their
  2 19 duties. The penalty for a violation of this provision remains
  2 20 a scheduled fine of $100.
  2 21    Under current law, privately owned rescue vehicles and
  2 22 certain other privately owned vehicles may be designated by
  2 23 the department of transportation as authorized emergency
  2 24 vehicles. The bill requires an application for a certificate
  2 25 of designation for a rescue vehicle to be accompanied by a
  2 26 letter of approval from the sheriff or emergency management
  2 27 coordinator of the county of the vehicle owner's residence.
  2 28 This provision of the bill does not apply to a rescue vehicle
  2 29 designated as an authorized emergency vehicle prior to July
  2 30 1, 2017, or to any other rescue vehicle owned by a person who
  2 31 owns or has owned a rescue vehicle designated as an authorized
  2 32 emergency vehicle prior to July 1, 2017.
       LSB 2379XS (3) 87
       ns/nh