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1		AN ACT concerning transportation.
2		Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3		represented in the General Assembly:
4		Section 5. The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by changing
5		Section 12-215 and by adding Section 1-220 as follows:
6		(625 ILCS 5/1-220 new)
7		Sec. 1-220. Volunteer EMS provider. An Emergency Medical
8		Services (EMS) Volunteer Ambulance provider who, on the
9		effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General
10		Assembly, has a valid memorandum of understanding with a
11		municipality with a population of more than 1,000,000 to
12		provide voluntary assistance to and for the benefit of the
13		residents of that municipality.
14		(625 ILCS 5/12-215) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-215)
15		Sec. 12-215. Oscillating, rotating or flashing lights on
16		motor vehicles. Except as otherwise provided in this Code:
17		(a) The use of red or white oscillating, rotating or
18		flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited
19		except on:
20		1. Law enforcement vehicles of State, Federal or local
21		authorities;
22		2. A vehicle operated by a police officer or county

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1		coroner and designated or authorized by local authorities,
2		in writing, as a law enforcement vehicle; however, such
3		designation or authorization must be carried in the
4		vehicle;
5		2.1. A vehicle operated by a fire chief who has
6		completed an emergency vehicle operation training course
7		approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and
8		designated or authorized by local authorities, in writing,
9		as a fire department, fire protection district, or township
10		fire department vehicle; however, the designation or
11		authorization must be carried in the vehicle, and the
12		lights may be visible or activated only when responding to
13		a bona fide emergency;
14		3. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
15		federal firefighting vehicles;
16		4. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively as
17		ambulances or rescue vehicles; furthermore, such lights
18		shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency
19		call for and while actually conveying the sick or injured;
20		4.5. Vehicles which are occasionally used as rescue
21		vehicles that have been authorized for use as rescue
22		vehicles by a volunteer EMS provider, provided that the
23		operator of the vehicle has successfully completed an
24		emergency vehicle operation training course recognized by
25		the Department of Public Health; furthermore, the lights
26		shall not be lighted except when responding to an emergency

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1		call for the sick or injured;
2		5. Tow trucks licensed in a state that requires such
3		lights; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on
4		any such tow truck while the tow truck is operating in the
5		State of Illinois;
6		6. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management
7		Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
8		Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public
9		Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of
10		Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of
11		Juvenile Justice;
12		7. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
13		management services agency as defined in the Illinois
14		Emergency Management Agency Act;
15		8. School buses operating alternately flashing head
16		lamps as permitted under Section 12-805 of this Code;
17		9. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as
18		organ transplant vehicles when used in combination with
19		blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights;
20		furthermore, these lights shall be lighted only when the
21		transportation is declared an emergency by a member of the
22		transplant team or a representative of the organ
23		procurement organization;
24		10. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
25		Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives
26		emergency response; and

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1		11. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of
2		Transportation identified as Emergency Traffic Patrol; the
3		lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an
4		emergency call or when parked or stationary while engaged
5		in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the
6		emergency; and
7		12. Vehicles of the Illinois State Toll Highway
8		Authority identified as Highway Emergency Lane Patrol; the
9		lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an
10		emergency call or when parked or stationary while engaged
11		in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the
12		emergency.
13		(b) The use of amber oscillating, rotating or flashing
14		lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
15		1. Second division vehicles designed and used for
16		towing or hoisting vehicles; furthermore, such lights
17		shall not be lighted except as required in this paragraph
18		1; such lights shall be lighted when such vehicles are
19		actually being used at the scene of an accident or
20		disablement; if the towing vehicle is equipped with a flat
21		bed that supports all wheels of the vehicle being
22		transported, the lights shall not be lighted while the
23		vehicle is engaged in towing on a highway; if the towing
24		vehicle is not equipped with a flat bed that supports all
25		wheels of a vehicle being transported, the lights shall be
26		lighted while the towing vehicle is engaged in towing on a

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1		highway during all times when the use of headlights is
2		required under Section 12-201 of this Code; in addition,
3		these vehicles may use white oscillating, rotating, or
4		flashing lights in combination with amber oscillating,
5		rotating, or flashing lights as provided in this paragraph;
6		2. Motor vehicles or equipment of the State of
7		Illinois, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, local
8		authorities and contractors; furthermore, such lights
9		shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are engaged
10		in maintenance or construction operations within the
11		limits of construction projects;
12		3. Vehicles or equipment used by engineering or survey
13		crews; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except
14		while such vehicles are actually engaged in work on a
15		highway;
16		4. Vehicles of public utilities, municipalities, or
17		other construction, maintenance or automotive service
18		vehicles except that such lights shall be lighted only as a
19		means for indicating the presence of a vehicular traffic
20		hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking
21		or passing while such vehicles are engaged in maintenance,
22		service or construction on a highway;
23		5. Oversized vehicle or load; however, such lights
24		shall only be lighted when moving under permit issued by
25		the Department under Section 15-301 of this Code;
26		6. The front and rear of motorized equipment owned and

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1		operated by the State of Illinois or any political
2		subdivision thereof, which is designed and used for removal
3		of snow and ice from highways;
4		6.1. The front and rear of motorized equipment or
5		vehicles that (i) are not owned by the State of Illinois or
6		any political subdivision of the State, (ii) are designed
7		and used for removal of snow and ice from highways and
8		parking lots, and (iii) are equipped with a snow plow that
9		is 12 feet in width; these lights may not be lighted except
10		when the motorized equipment or vehicle is actually being
11		used for those purposes on behalf of a unit of government;
12		7. Fleet safety vehicles registered in another state,
13		furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except as
14		provided for in Section 12-212 of this Code;
15		8. Such other vehicles as may be authorized by local
16		authorities;
17		9. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
18		authorities when used in combination with red oscillating,
19		rotating or flashing lights;
20		9.5. Propane delivery trucks;
21		10. Vehicles used for collecting or delivering mail for
22		the United States Postal Service provided that such lights
23		shall not be lighted except when such vehicles are actually
24		being used for such purposes;
25		10.5. Vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
26		Marshal, provided that such lights shall not be lighted

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1		except for when such vehicles are engaged in work for the
2		Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal;
3		11. Any vehicle displaying a slow-moving vehicle
4		emblem as provided in Section 12-205.1;
5		12. All trucks equipped with self-compactors or
6		roll-off hoists and roll-on containers for garbage or
7		refuse hauling. Such lights shall not be lighted except
8		when such vehicles are actually being used for such
9		purposes;
10		13. Vehicles used by a security company, alarm
11		responder, control agency, or the Illinois Department of
12		Corrections;
13		14. Security vehicles of the Department of Human
14		Services; however, the lights shall not be lighted except
15		when being used for security related purposes under the
16		direction of the superintendent of the facility where the
17		vehicle is located; and
18		15. Vehicles of union representatives, except that the
19		lights shall be lighted only while the vehicle is within
20		the limits of a construction project.
21		(c) The use of blue oscillating, rotating or flashing
22		lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
23		1. Rescue squad vehicles not owned by a fire department
24		and vehicles owned or operated by a:
25		voluntary firefighter;
26		paid firefighter;

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1		part-paid firefighter;
2		call firefighter;
3		member of the board of trustees of a fire
4		protection district;
5		paid or unpaid member of a rescue squad;
6		paid or unpaid member of a voluntary ambulance
7		unit; or
8		paid or unpaid members of a local or county
9		emergency management services agency as defined in the
10		Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, designated
11		or authorized by local authorities, in writing, and
12		carrying that designation or authorization in the
13		vehicle.
14		However, such lights are not to be lighted except when
15		responding to a bona fide emergency or when parked or
16		stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance
17		call, or motor vehicle accident.
18		Any person using these lights in accordance with this
19		subdivision (c)1 must carry on his or her person an
20		identification card or letter identifying the bona fide
21		member of a fire department, fire protection district,
22		rescue squad, ambulance unit, or emergency management
23		services agency that owns or operates that vehicle. The
24		card or letter must include:
25		(A) the name of the fire department, fire
26		protection district, rescue squad, ambulance unit, or

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1		emergency management services agency;
2		(B) the member's position within the fire
3		department, fire protection district, rescue squad,
4		ambulance unit, or emergency management services
5		agency;
6		(C) the member's term of service; and
7		(D) the name of a person within the fire
8		department, fire protection district, rescue squad,
9		ambulance unit, or emergency management services
10		agency to contact to verify the information provided.
11		2. Police department vehicles in cities having a
12		population of 500,000 or more inhabitants.
13		3. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
14		authorities when used in combination with red oscillating,
15		rotating or flashing lights.
16		4. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
17		federal firefighting vehicles when used in combination
18		with red oscillating, rotating or flashing lights.
19		5. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively as
20		ambulances or rescue vehicles when used in combination with
21		red oscillating, rotating or flashing lights; furthermore,
22		such lights shall not be lighted except when responding to
23		an emergency call.
24		6. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as
25		organ transport vehicles when used in combination with red
26		oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights; furthermore,

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1		these lights shall only be lighted when the transportation
2		is declared an emergency by a member of the transplant team
3		or a representative of the organ procurement organization.
4		7. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management
5		Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
6		Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public
7		Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of
8		Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of
9		Juvenile Justice, when used in combination with red
10		oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
11		8. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
12		management services agency as defined in the Illinois
13		Emergency Management Agency Act, when used in combination
14		with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
15		9. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
16		Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives
17		emergency response, when used in combination with red
18		oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
19		(c-1) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or
20		flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and
21		notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a
22		voluntary firefighter, a voluntary member of a rescue squad, or
23		a member of a voluntary ambulance unit may be equipped with
24		flashing white headlights and blue grill lights, which may be
25		used only in responding to an emergency call or when parked or
26		stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance call,

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1		or motor vehicle accident.
2		(c-2) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or
3		flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and
4		notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a paid or
5		unpaid member of a local or county emergency management
6		services agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency Management
7		Agency Act, may be equipped with white oscillating, rotating,
8		or flashing lights to be used in combination with blue
9		oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, if authorization by
10		local authorities is in writing and carried in the vehicle.
11		(d) The use of a combination of amber and white
12		oscillating, rotating or flashing lights, whether lighted or
13		unlighted, is prohibited except on second division vehicles
14		designed and used for towing or hoisting vehicles or motor
15		vehicles or equipment of the State of Illinois, local
16		authorities, contractors, and union representatives;
17		furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on second
18		division vehicles designed and used for towing or hoisting
19		vehicles or vehicles of the State of Illinois, local
20		authorities, and contractors except while such vehicles are
21		engaged in a tow operation, highway maintenance, or
22		construction operations within the limits of highway
23		construction projects, and shall not be lighted on the vehicles
24		of union representatives except when those vehicles are within
25		the limits of a construction project.
26		(e) All oscillating, rotating or flashing lights referred

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1		to in this Section shall be of sufficient intensity, when
2		illuminated, to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.
3		(f) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a manufacturer
4		of oscillating, rotating or flashing lights or his
5		representative or authorized vendor from temporarily mounting
6		such lights on a vehicle for demonstration purposes only. If
7		the lights are not covered while the vehicle is operated upon a
8		highway, the vehicle shall display signage indicating that the
9		vehicle is out of service or not an emergency vehicle. The
10		signage shall be displayed on all sides of the vehicle in
11		letters at least 2 inches tall and one-half inch wide. A
12		vehicle authorized to have oscillating, rotating, or flashing
13		lights mounted for demonstration purposes may not activate the
14		lights while the vehicle is operated upon a highway.
15		(g) Any person violating the provisions of subsections (a),
16		(b), (c) or (d) of this Section who without lawful authority
17		stops or detains or attempts to stop or detain another person
18		shall be guilty of a Class 2 felony.
19		(h) Except as provided in subsection (g) above, any person
20		violating the provisions of subsections (a) or (c) of this
21		Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
22		(Source: P.A. 97-39, eff. 1-1-12; 97-149, eff. 7-14-11; 97-813,
23		eff. 7-13-12; 97-1173, eff. 1-1-14; 98-80, eff. 7-15-13;
24		98-123, eff. 1-1-14; 98-468, eff. 8-16-13; 98-756, eff.
25		7-16-14; 98-873, eff. 1-1-15; revised 10-6-14.)