Introduced Version




HOUSE BILL No. 1347

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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 9-13-2-19.4; IC 9-19-14.

Synopsis: Chaplain driving personal vehicle to emergency. Provides that a chaplain of a full-time police or fire department (chaplain) may display certain blue and white lights (lights) on the privately owned vehicle of the chaplain while serving the duties of the department en route to scenes of emergencies. Requires a chaplain operating a vehicle displaying lights to obey all traffic rules. Provides that a person who is not a chaplain who displays lights commits a Class C infraction.

Effective: July 1, 2013.



Stemler


    January 15, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety.




Introduced

First Regular Session 118th General Assembly (2013)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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HOUSE BILL No. 1347


    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning motor vehicles.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 9-13-2-19.4; (13)IN1347.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 9-13-2-19.4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013]: Sec. 19.4. "Chaplain", for purposes of IC 9-19-14, has the meaning set forth in IC 9-19-14-0.5.
SOURCE: IC 9-19-14-0.5; (13)IN1347.1.2. -->     SECTION 2. IC 9-19-14-0.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013]: Sec. 0.5. As used in this chapter, "chaplain" means an individual who is appointed or officially designated to serve, with or without compensation, as a chaplain of either of the following:
        (1) A full-time police department of a municipality (as defined by IC 36-1-2-11).
        (2) A full-time fire department of a municipality (as defined by IC 36-1-2-11).
SOURCE: IC 9-19-14-4; (13)IN1347.1.3. -->     SECTION 3. IC 9-19-14-4 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013]: Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the use of signal equipment described in this chapter imposes upon a driver of another vehicle the duty to yield

right-of-way and stop as prescribed in IC 9-21-8-35.
    (b) When a vehicle driven by a chaplain displays blue and white signal lamps as set forth in section 7(b) of this chapter, the driver of another vehicle is not required to yield the right-of-way and stop as prescribed in IC 9-21-8-35.

SOURCE: IC 9-19-14-7; (13)IN1347.1.4. -->     SECTION 4. IC 9-19-14-7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013]: Sec. 7. (a) A chaplain may display blue and white lights on a privately owned vehicle of the chaplain while serving the duties of the department en route to the scene of an emergency.
    (b) If a vehicle displays lights for use as in subsection (a), the vehicle must be equipped with either of the following:
        (1) At least two (2) signal lamps capable of displaying a blue beam and a white beam that meet the following requirements:
            (A) The signal lamps are mounted as high and as widely spaced laterally as practicable or mounted in a manner that will make the lights visible to oncoming traffic one hundred eighty (180) degrees around the front of the vehicle.
            (B) The signal lamps are capable of displaying to the front alternately flashing blue and white lights.
            (C) The signal lamp capable of displaying the blue beam is located on the driver's side of the vehicle and the signal lamp capable of displaying the white beam is located on the passenger's side of the vehicle.
        (2) One (1) signal lamp that is capable of displaying a blue beam and a white beam in a manner that will make the light visible to oncoming traffic one hundred eighty (180) degrees in front of the vehicle.
    (c) In order for a chaplain to display signal lamps with blue and white beams on a private vehicle, the chaplain must:
        (1) secure a written permit from the executive (as defined in IC 36-1-2-5) of the municipality in which the chaplain serves to use the signal lamps; and
        (2) carry the permit at all times when the blue and white beams are displayed.
    (d) A person who is not a chaplain may not display signal lamps with blue and white beams as set forth in subsection (b) on a vehicle.
    (e) A permittee of the owner of a vehicle lawfully equipped with signal lamps with blue and white beams as set forth in subsection (b) may operate the vehicle only if the signal lamps are not

illuminated.
    (f) This section does not grant a vehicle displaying signal lamps with blue and white beams the right-of-way under IC 9-21-8-35 or an exemption from traffic rules under IC 9-21-1-8. A driver of a vehicle displaying signal lamps with blue and white beams shall obey all traffic rules.
    (g) This section may not be construed to include a vehicle:
        (1) displaying signal lamps with blue and white beams; and
        (2) driven by a chaplain as an authorized emergency vehicle (as defined by IC 9-13-2-6).