Senate File 307 - Introduced SENATE FILE 307 BY SCHNEIDER A BILL FOR An Act relating to rescue vehicles designated as authorized 1 emergency vehicles, and making a penalty applicable. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2379XS (3) 87 ns/nh

S.F. 307 Section 1. Section 321.231, subsections 3 and 4, Code 2017, 1 are amended to read as follows: 2 3. The driver of a fire department vehicle, police vehicle, 3 rescue vehicle, or ambulance, or a peace officer riding a 4 police bicycle in the line of duty may do any of the following: 5 a. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only 6 after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation. 7 b. Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver 8 does not endanger life or property. 9 4. The exemptions granted to an authorized emergency 10 vehicle under subsection 2 and for a fire department vehicle, 11 police vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance as provided in 12 subsection 3 shall apply only when such vehicle is making use 13 of an audible signaling device meeting the requirements of 14 section 321.433 or a visual signaling device, except that use 15 of an audible or visual signaling device shall not be required 16 when exercising the exemption granted under subsection 3 , 17 paragraph “b” of this section when the vehicle is operated by 18 a peace officer, pursuing a suspected violator of the speed 19 restrictions imposed by or pursuant to this chapter , for the 20 purpose of determining the speed of travel of such suspected 21 violator. 22 Sec. 2. Section 321.451, subsection 2, Code 2017, is amended 23 to read as follows: 24 2. a. The application for a certificate of designation 25 must include the name of the owner of the vehicle, vehicle 26 identification information, a description of the vehicle’s 27 equipment, and a description of how the vehicle will be used as 28 an authorized emergency vehicle. 29 b. If the vehicle is a rescue vehicle, the application shall 30 be accompanied by a letter of approval from the sheriff or 31 emergency management coordinator of the county of the vehicle 32 owner’s residence. This paragraph “b” shall not apply to a 33 rescue vehicle designated as an authorized emergency vehicle 34 prior to July 1, 2017, or to any other rescue vehicle owned by a 35 -1- LSB 2379XS (3) 87 ns/nh 1/ 2

S.F. 307 person who owns or has owned a rescue vehicle designated as an 1 authorized emergency vehicle prior to July 1, 2017. 2 EXPLANATION 3 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 4 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 5 Under current law, an authorized emergency vehicle that 6 is a fire department vehicle, police vehicle, or ambulance, 7 that is responding to an emergency call, in the pursuit of a 8 perpetrator, operating in response to an incident dangerous to 9 the public, or responding to a fire alarm, may proceed past 10 a red light or stop sign after slowing down as necessary for 11 the safe operation of the vehicle, and may exceed the maximum 12 speed limits so long as the driver does not endanger life 13 or property. This bill broadens that provision to include 14 rescue vehicles. Under Code chapter 321, a “rescue vehicle” 15 is a motor vehicle equipped with rescue, fire, or life support 16 equipment used to assist and rescue persons in emergencies 17 or support emergency personnel in the performance of their 18 duties. The penalty for a violation of this provision remains 19 a scheduled fine of $100. 20 Under current law, privately owned rescue vehicles and 21 certain other privately owned vehicles may be designated by 22 the department of transportation as authorized emergency 23 vehicles. The bill requires an application for a certificate 24 of designation for a rescue vehicle to be accompanied by a 25 letter of approval from the sheriff or emergency management 26 coordinator of the county of the vehicle owner’s residence. 27 This provision of the bill does not apply to a rescue vehicle 28 designated as an authorized emergency vehicle prior to July 29 1, 2017, or to any other rescue vehicle owned by a person who 30 owns or has owned a rescue vehicle designated as an authorized 31 emergency vehicle prior to July 1, 2017. 32 -2- LSB 2379XS (3) 87 ns/nh 2/ 2