House File 62 - Introduced



                                       HOUSE FILE       
                                       BY  JONES


    Passed House,  Date               Passed Senate, Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act prohibiting the unauthorized sale, ownership, possession,
  2    or use of traffic signal preemption devices and providing a
  3    penalty.
  4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  5 TLSB 1425HH 81
  6 dea/gg/14

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 321.260, Code 2005, is amended by
  1  2 adding the following new subsection:
  1  3    NEW SUBSECTION.  3.  a.  A person shall not sell, own,
  1  4 possess, or use a traffic signal preemption device except as
  1  5 permitted in connection with the lawful operation of an
  1  6 authorized emergency vehicle as defined in section 321.1.  A
  1  7 person who is convicted of the unauthorized sale, ownership,
  1  8 possession, or use of a traffic signal preemption device is
  1  9 guilty of a simple misdemeanor.  In addition to any other
  1 10 penalties, the punishment imposed for a violation under this
  1 11 subsection shall include assessment of a fine of not less than
  1 12 two hundred fifty dollars, and if the violation involves the
  1 13 unauthorized use of a traffic signal preemption device, the
  1 14 person may also be required to complete community service.
  1 15    b.  For purposes of this subsection, "traffic signal
  1 16 preemption device" means a device that, when activated, is
  1 17 capable of changing an official traffic control signal to
  1 18 green out of sequence.
  1 19                           EXPLANATION
  1 20    This bill makes it unlawful to sell, own, possess, or use a
  1 21 traffic signal preemption device except in connection with the
  1 22 use of an authorized emergency vehicle.  The bill defines
  1 23 "traffic signal preemption device" as a device that can change
  1 24 a traffic control signal to green out of sequence.
  1 25    The penalty for a violation is a simple misdemeanor, which
  1 26 is punishable by a fine of up to $500 or 30 days'
  1 27 imprisonment, or both.  The bill specifies that the penalty
  1 28 shall include, at a minimum, a fine of $250.  In addition, if
  1 29 the violation is for unauthorized use of a traffic signal
  1 30 preemption device, the person may also be required to perform
  1 31 community service.
  1 32 LSB 1425HH 81
  1 33 dea/gg/14