Senate File 241 - Introduced SENATE FILE 241 BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (SUCCESSOR TO SF 27) A BILL FOR An Act relating to requirements for the use of headlights, and 1 providing penalties. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1351SV (1) 85 dea/nh

S.F. 241 Section 1. Section 321.384, Code 2013, 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 conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide . 10 b. Whenever atmospheric conditions require the use of 11 windshield wipers. 12 c. During any period of rain, drizzle, sleet, hail, snow, 13 blowing snow, freezing rain, or ground-level fog. 14 d. Whenever, due to insufficient lighting to render clearly 15 discernible or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons 16 and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a 17 distance of five hundred one thousand feet ahead, shall display 18 lighted headlamps as provided in section 321.415 , subject to 19 exceptions with respect to parked vehicles as hereinafter 20 stated . 21 2. Whenever A requirement is hereinafter declared as to in 22 this chapter regarding the distance from which certain lamps 23 and devices shall render objects visible or within which such 24 lamps or devices shall be visible , said provisions shall apply 25 during the times stated in subsection 1 of this section upon 26 a straight level unlighted highway under normal atmospheric 27 conditions unless a different time or condition is expressly 28 stated. 29 Sec. 2. Section 321.482A, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 30 2013, is amended to read as follows: 31 Notwithstanding section 321.482 , a person who is convicted 32 of operating a motor vehicle in violation of section 321.178, 33 subsection 2 , paragraph “a” , subparagraph (2), section 34 321.180B, subsection 6 , section 321.194, subsection 1 , 35 -1- LSB 1351SV (1) 85 dea/nh 1/ 3

S.F. 241 paragraph “c” , section 321.256 , section or 321.257 , section 1 321.275, subsection 4 , section 321.276, 321.297 , 321.298 , 2 321.299 , 321.302 , 321.303 , 321.304 , 321.305 , 321.306 , 321.307 , 3 or 321.308 , section 321.309, subsection 2 , or section 321.311 , 4 321.319 , 321.320 , 321.321 , 321.322 , 321.323 , 321.324 , 321.324A , 5 321.327 , 321.329 , or 321.333 , or section 321.372, subsection 6 3 , or section 321.384 causing serious injury to or the death 7 of another person may be subject to the following penalties in 8 addition to the penalty provided for a scheduled violation in 9 section 805.8A or any other penalty provided by law: 10 EXPLANATION 11 This bill amends Code section 321.384 to require the 12 operator of a motor vehicle to display lighted headlamps from 13 sunset to sunrise; whenever atmospheric conditions require 14 the use of windshield wipers; during any period of rain, 15 drizzle, sleet, hail, snow, blowing snow, freezing rain, or 16 ground-level fog; or whenever, due to insufficient lighting or 17 unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on 18 the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1,000 19 feet. Currently, the use of headlamps is required from sunset 20 to sunrise and at all other times when conditions such as fog, 21 snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting to clearly 22 see 500 feet ahead. 23 The penalty that currently applies to a violation of 24 requirements for headlight use applies to the new requirements 25 under the bill. A violation is a simple misdemeanor, 26 punishable by a scheduled fine of $30. The bill adds a 27 violation of Code section 321.384 to the list of traffic 28 offenses for which additional penalties may be imposed for a 29 violation causing serious injury to or death of another person. 30 If the violation causes a serious personal injury, a court 31 could impose an additional fine of $500 or suspend the person’s 32 driver’s license for not more than 90 days, or both. If the 33 violation causes a death, a court could impose an additional 34 fine of $1,000 or suspend the person’s driver’s license for not 35 -2- LSB 1351SV (1) 85 dea/nh 2/ 3

S.F. 241 more than 180 days, or both. 1 The following Code sections contain provisions which are 2 linked to the times when headlamps are required under Code 3 section 321.384 and are therefore affected indirectly by the 4 bill: 5 Code section 321.235A, which requires the use of a headlight 6 and a rear reflector on an electric personal assistive mobility 7 device. 8 Code section 321.392, which requires the use of certain 9 lighting devices and reflectors on motor trucks. 10 Code section 321.394, which requires a red light to be 11 displayed on projecting loads. 12 Code section 321.395, which requires lighting on vehicles 13 stopped on an unlighted roadway or shoulder. 14 Code sections 321.397, 321.398, and 321.418, which describe 15 lighting requirements for bicycles, animal drawn vehicles, and 16 slow-moving vehicles. 17 Code section 321.405, which requires self-illumination of 18 mechanical signal devices. 19 Code sections 321.415 and 321.419, which provide 20 specifications for headlamps. 21 -3- LSB 1351SV (1) 85 dea/nh 3/ 3