House File 2089 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2089 BY STECKMAN , GASKILL , TJEPKES , HANSON , ABDUL-SAMAD , KEARNS , and THEDE A BILL FOR An Act requiring the use of headlights or daytime running lamps 1 on a motor vehicle during periods of moisture accumulation 2 or windshield wiper use, and making a penalty applicable. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5632YH (7) 84 dea/nh

H.F. 2089 Section 1. Section 321.384, Code 2011, is amended to read 1 as follows: 2 321.384 When lighted lamps required. 3 1. Every A motor vehicle upon operated on a highway within 4 the state, at any time from shall display lighted headlamps 5 as provided in section 321.415 during the following times, 6 subject to exceptions under this chapter with respect to parked 7 vehicles: 8 a. From sunset to sunrise , and at such other times when . 9 b. Whenever conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain 10 provide insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible 11 persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five 12 hundred feet ahead , shall display lighted headlamps as provided 13 in section 321.415 , subject to exceptions with respect to 14 parked vehicles as hereinafter stated . 15 2. a. A motor vehicle operated on a highway shall display 16 lighted headlamps, as provided in section 321.415, or daytime 17 running lamps whenever there is moisture accumulating on 18 the windshield due to misting, light rain, or other weather 19 conditions or whenever the motor vehicle’s windshield wipers 20 are activated to improve visibility. 21 b. For purposes of this subsection, “daytime running lamps” 22 means a pair of lamps on the front of a motor vehicle which meet 23 the standard for daytime running lamps described in 49 C.F.R. 24 § 571.108. 25 2. 3. Whenever A requirement is hereinafter declared as 26 to in this chapter regarding the distance from which certain 27 lamps and devices shall render objects visible or within which 28 such lamps or devices shall be visible , said provisions shall 29 apply during the times stated in subsection 1 of this section , 30 paragraphs “a” and “b” , upon a straight level unlighted highway 31 under normal atmospheric conditions unless a different time or 32 condition is expressly stated. 33 Sec. 2. Section 321.415, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 34 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows: 35 -1- LSB 5632YH (7) 84 dea/nh 1/ 3

H.F. 2089 Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway 1 or shoulder during the times specified in section 321.384 , 2 unless the motor vehicle is displaying daytime running lamps 3 as permitted under section 321.384, subsection 2, the driver 4 shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed 5 high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and 6 vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject 7 to the following requirements and limitations: 8 EXPLANATION 9 This bill amends Code section 321.384 to require the 10 operator of a motor vehicle to display lighted headlamps or 11 daytime running lamps on the vehicle whenever there is moisture 12 accumulating on the windshield due to misting, light rain, 13 or other weather conditions or whenever the motor vehicle’s 14 windshield wipers are activated to improve visibility. 15 Currently, the use of headlamps is required from sunset to 16 sunrise and at all other times when conditions such as fog, 17 snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting to clearly 18 see 500 feet ahead. 19 The penalty that currently applies to a violation of 20 requirements for headlight use applies to the new requirements 21 under the bill. A violation is a simple misdemeanor, 22 punishable by a scheduled fine of $30. 23 The following Code sections contain provisions which are 24 linked to the times when headlamps are required under Code 25 section 321.384 and are therefore affected indirectly by the 26 bill: 27 Code section 321.235A, which requires the use of a headlight 28 and a rear reflector on an electric personal assistive mobility 29 device. 30 Code section 321.392, which requires the use of certain 31 lighting devices and reflectors on motor trucks. 32 Code section 321.394, which requires a red light to be 33 displayed on projecting loads. 34 Code section 321.395, which requires lighting on vehicles 35 -2- LSB 5632YH (7) 84 dea/nh 2/ 3

H.F. 2089 stopped on an unlighted roadway or shoulder. 1 Code sections 321.397, 321.398, and 321.418, which describe 2 lighting requirements for bicycles, animal drawn vehicles, and 3 slow-moving vehicles. 4 Code section 321.405, which requires self-illumination of 5 mechanical signal devices. 6 Code sections 321.415 and 321.419, which provide 7 specifications for headlamps. 8 -3- LSB 5632YH (7) 84 dea/nh 3/ 3