Senate File 363 - Introduced SENATE FILE 363 BY BACON A BILL FOR An Act relating to the use of a flashing blue light on certain 1 funeral escort vehicles and making a penalty applicable. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2475XS (3) 84 dea/nh

S.F. 363 Section 1. Section 321.324A, subsection 1, Code 2011, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 1. For purposes of this section , “funeral procession” means 3 a procession of motor vehicles accompanying the body of a 4 deceased person during daylight hours , which is being escorted 5 by a vehicle continually displaying its emergency signal 6 lamps flashing simultaneously and using lighted headlamps and 7 identifying flags, or an escort a vehicle displaying a flashing 8 or revolving red and amber light visible to pedestrians in all 9 directions, or a funeral escort vehicle with a permit issued 10 under section 321.451A displaying a flashing blue light, and 11 keeping all other motor vehicles with lighted headlamps in 12 close formation. 13 Sec. 2. Section 321.423, subsection 3, Code 2011, is amended 14 to read as follows: 15 3. Blue light. 16 a. A blue light shall not be used on any vehicle except for 17 the following: 18 (1) A vehicle owned or exclusively operated by a fire 19 department. 20 (2) A vehicle authorized by the chief of the fire department 21 if the vehicle is owned by a member of the fire department, 22 the request for authorization is made by the member on forms 23 provided by the department, and necessity for authorization is 24 demonstrated in the request. 25 (3) An authorized emergency vehicle, other than a vehicle 26 described in paragraph “a” , subparagraph (1) or (2), if the blue 27 light is positioned on the passenger side of the vehicle and is 28 used in conjunction with a red light positioned on the driver 29 side of the vehicle. 30 (4) A funeral escort vehicle with a permit issued under 31 section 321.451A, when the vehicle is leading a funeral 32 procession as defined in section 321.324A to a cemetery or 33 other place for the burial, entombment, or interment of human 34 remains. 35 -1- LSB 2475XS (3) 84 dea/nh 1/ 3

S.F. 363 b. A person shall not use only a blue light on a vehicle 1 unless the vehicle meets the requirements of paragraph “a” , 2 subparagraph (1) , or (2) , or (4) . 3 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 321.451A Funeral escort vehicles —— 4 blue light permit. 5 1. The owner of a motor vehicle used as a funeral escort 6 vehicle who wishes to display a flashing blue light on the 7 vehicle shall apply for a permit on forms provided by the 8 department. Upon receipt of the application and a showing of 9 necessity for the designation, the director or the director’s 10 designee may issue a permit for the use of a blue light as 11 provided in section 321.423, subsection 3, paragraph “a” . 12 2. The application for a permit must include the name of 13 the owner of the vehicle, vehicle identification information, 14 a description of the vehicle’s lighting equipment, and a 15 description of how the vehicle will be used as a funeral escort 16 vehicle. 17 3. The permit shall at all times be carried with the 18 registration receipt for the vehicle to which the permit 19 refers. The owner of the vehicle shall surrender the permit 20 to the department when the vehicle is no longer being used as 21 a funeral escort vehicle. The permit may be revoked by the 22 director upon a showing of abuse. 23 EXPLANATION 24 Under current law, a vehicle which is used to escort a 25 funeral procession may continually display its emergency signal 26 lamps, lighted headlamps, and identifying flags or display 27 a flashing or revolving red and amber light. Blue lights 28 are authorized for use on fire department vehicles, vehicles 29 owned by certain fire department members, and some authorized 30 emergency vehicles. This bill provides a process for the use 31 of a flashing blue light on a funeral escort vehicle. 32 Under the bill, if the owner of a funeral escort vehicle 33 wishes to use a flashing blue light, the owner must apply to 34 the department of transportation for a special permit. Upon a 35 -2- LSB 2475XS (3) 84 dea/nh 2/ 3

S.F. 363 showing of necessity, the department may issue a permit for the 1 funeral escort vehicle. The permit must be carried with the 2 vehicle at all times and must be surrendered to the department 3 when the vehicle is no longer being used as a funeral escort 4 vehicle. The permit may be revoked by the department upon a 5 showing of abuse. 6 The bill authorizes the use of a flashing blue light on 7 a funeral escort vehicle with a permit when the vehicle is 8 leading a funeral procession to a cemetery or other place for 9 the burial, entombment, or interment of human remains. 10 Pursuant to current law, a violation of provisions relating 11 to the use of flashing lights on a vehicle is a simple 12 misdemeanor, punishable by a scheduled fine of $30. 13 -3- LSB 2475XS (3) 84 dea/nh 3/ 3