Relating to lighting devices and other equipment on snow plows and authorized emergency vehicles, providing penalties, making penalties applicable, and including effective date provisions

Sponsored by the House Transportation Committee

Topics:Public safety & emergencies Transportation

Same legislation: SF 71, HSB 189, SF 331

Write your legislators about itWhat changed before it passed

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2021
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 9, 2021
Done: House committeeFebruary 11, 2021
Done: Passes the HouseMarch 9, 2021
Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
Done: Passes the SenateMarch 29, 202145–0
Done: To the GovernorMay 10, 2021
Done: Signed into lawMay 10, 2021

Signed into law What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary State and local government vehicles, such as snowplows and emergency trucks, can now use specific combinations of blue, white, red, and amber lights. Emergency vehicles must follow new rules for where their lights are placed and how they are turned on. Additionally, certain towing vehicles can use red and blue lights, but they cannot use a siren unless they are owned by the state or a city.¹

Read the official explanation

In 2015, the general assembly authorized motor trucks, trailers, tractors, truck-mounted snow blowers, and motor graders owned by the department of transportation (DOT) and used for snow and ice treatment or removal to display rear-facing blue and white lighting devices or reflectors in conjunction with amber lighting devices or reflectors. These authorizations were set to be repealed July 1, 2019. In 2018, the general assembly struck these future repeal provisions. This bill applies those authorizations to such vehicles owned by the state or any political subdivision of the state, including any local authority. Under Code chapter 321, a “local authority” is any county, municipal, and other local board or body having authority to adopt local police regulations under the constitution and laws of the state. The bill allows authorized emergency vehicles to be equipped with a variety of lighting devices, including flashing headlamps, flashing or solid white lights, split red and blue steady or flashing lights, and lights or light bars containing one or more rear zone amber lights or amber directional arrows. The bill includes as vehicles authorized to use a flashing white light motor trucks or trailers owned and operated by the DOT equipped with an impact attenuator and audible warning system, if the flashing white light is rear-facing on the audible warning system and used in conjunction with amber lighting devices or reflectors while the motor truck or trailer is being used for slow-moving maintenance operations, and vehicles or other equipment not owned and operated by the DOT when used in road work zones on state or local highways as authorized by the DOT. The bill requires authorized emergency vehicles to be equipped with a combination of operational red and blue lights, and if equipped with a light bar, requires the light bar to be positioned such that the front and rear facing red lights are on the driver’s side of the vehicle and the front and rear facing blue lights are on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. The bill also requires an official fire department or emergency medical services vehicle purchased, delivered, or refurbished on or after July 1, 2021, to be equipped with a master warning switch to activate all emergency lights on the vehicle, in addition to one or more switches to separately activate or isolate the front, side, and rear warning lights. In addition, an incident command vehicle may be equipped with one or more steady or flashing green lights. A towing or recovery vehicle may be equipped with red and blue lights. However, unless owned by the state or a municipality, a towing or recovery vehicle is prohibited from being equipped with a siren.433 is punishable by a scheduled fine of $45.424 are also punishable by a scheduled fine of $45. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

Changed since by amendments S-3102, S-3101; see Amendments.

Full bill text · What changed before it passed²

House subcommittee

Named February 9, 2021 (as HSB 189). On February 16, 2021 it recommended amendment and passage. Vote Total: 3-0.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Fiscal note

Can’t be estimated Compare with other bills

AI summary This bill outlines where authorized emergency vehicles can use specific lighting equipment and colors and creates a $45 fine for violations. There may be an increase in fine and surcharge revenue for the state's General Fund, the EMS Fund, and various other state funds, but the exact amount is unknown.³

Read the fiscal note

Description

House File 654 creates Iowa Code section 321.424, which outlines where authorized emergency vehicles can equip lighting equipment and authorizes the different colors and functions of those lights. A fine of $45 is created within Iowa Code section 805.8A(3) for violations of new Iowa Code section 321.424.

Background

Iowa law currently provides circumstances in which blue, red, white, and amber lights may be used on vehicles. Flashing lights on or in a motor vehicle are prohibited except for the following instances:

On an authorized emergency vehicle.
On a vehicle when used to indicate a turn, a mechanical failure, or an emergency stop.
On a vehicle used by a rural mail carrier when stopped or stopping near a highway to deliver mail, or if the shade of the light is between white and amber and mounted as a dome light on top of the vehicle.
On a vehicle being operated under an excess size permit.
A blue light under Iowa Code section 321.423(3) and a white light under Iowa Code section 321.423(7).
Red, amber, and white lights used by school buses as described in Iowa Code sections 321.372 and 321.373(7).
An amber light on a towing or recovery vehicle; utility, municipal, or highway maintenance vehicle; construction vehicle; or certain other vehicles.
Modulating headlamps on a motorcycle.
On a vehicle being operated as an escort vehicle for a funeral procession under Iowa Code section 321.324A.

Assumptions

There will be an unknown increase in fine and surcharge revenue as a result of House File 654.

Correctional Impact

House File 654 creates a new citation under Iowa Code section 805.8A(3). Since the violation of this citation does not result in imprisonment, this Bill is not estimated to have a correctional impact. Refer to the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) memo addressed to the General Assembly, Cost Estimates Used for Correctional Impact Statements, dated January 22, 2021, for information related to the correctional system.

Minority Impact

House File 654 establishes a new citation under Iowa Code section 805.8A(3). Since this is a new citation, it is unknown how many violations there may be, and as a result, the minority impact is unknown. Refer to the LSA memo addressed to the General Assembly, Minority Impact Statement, dated January 27, 2021, for information related to minorities in the criminal justice system.

Fiscal Impact

Since House File 654 establishes a new citation, there may be an increase in fine and surcharge revenue, but the impact is unknown. Table 1 shows the distribution of fine revenue for one citation of the scheduled violation established under this Bill. Table 1 — Fine and Surcharge Revenue Distribution