House File 2158 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2158 BY LANDON A BILL FOR An Act relating to rescue vehicles designated as authorized 1 emergency vehicles, and making penalties applicable. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 5914YH (5) 87 ns/rh

H.F. 2158 Section 1. Section 321.231, subsections 3 and 4, Code 2018, 1 are amended to read as follows: 2 3. The driver of a fire department vehicle, police 3 vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance, or a peace officer 4 riding a police bicycle in the line of duty , may do any of the 5 following: 6 a. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only 7 after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation. 8 b. Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver 9 does not endanger life or property. 10 4. The exemptions granted to an authorized emergency 11 vehicle under subsection 2 and for to a fire department 12 vehicle, police vehicle, rescue vehicle, or ambulance as 13 provided in subsection 3 shall apply only when such vehicle 14 is making use of an audible signaling device meeting the 15 requirements of section 321.433 or a visual signaling device, 16 except that use of an audible or visual signaling device shall 17 not be required when exercising the exemption granted under 18 subsection 3 , paragraph “b” , of this section when the vehicle is 19 operated by a peace officer , pursuing a suspected violator of 20 the speed restrictions imposed by or pursuant to this chapter , 21 for the purpose of determining the speed of travel of such 22 suspected violator. 23 Sec. 2. Section 321.451, subsection 2, Code 2018, is amended 24 to read as follows: 25 2. a. The application for a certificate of designation 26 must include the name of the owner of the vehicle, vehicle 27 identification information, a description of the vehicle’s 28 equipment, and a description of how the vehicle will be used as 29 an authorized emergency vehicle. 30 b. If the vehicle is a rescue vehicle, the application shall 31 be accompanied by a letter of approval from the sheriff or 32 emergency management coordinator of the county of the vehicle 33 owner’s residence. This paragraph shall not apply to a rescue 34 vehicle designated as an authorized emergency vehicle prior 35 -1- LSB 5914YH (5) 87 ns/rh 1/ 2

H.F. 2158 to July 1, 2018, or to any other rescue vehicle owned by a 1 person who owns or has owned a rescue vehicle designated as an 2 authorized emergency vehicle prior to July 1, 2018. 3 EXPLANATION 4 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 5 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 6 Under current law, the driver of an authorized emergency 7 vehicle may exercise certain driving privileges relating to 8 parking and directional signs when responding to an emergency 9 call. In addition, certain types of authorized emergency 10 vehicles including fire department vehicles, police vehicles, 11 and ambulances, as well as peace officers riding on police 12 bicycles, may proceed past red stop signals or stop signs 13 and exceed speed limits while exercising necessary safety 14 precautions and using an audible or visual signal. This bill 15 includes rescue vehicles in the list of authorized emergency 16 vehicles that may ignore red stop signals or stop signs and 17 exceed speed limits in emergency situations. Under Code 18 section 321.1, a “rescue vehicle” is a motor vehicle which is 19 equipped with rescue, fire, or life support equipment used to 20 assist and rescue persons in emergencies or support emergency 21 personnel in the performance of their duties. The penalty for 22 a violation of the provision remains a scheduled fine of $100. 23 Under current law, privately owned rescue vehicles and 24 certain other privately owned vehicles may be designated by 25 the department of transportation as authorized emergency 26 vehicles. The bill requires an application for a certificate 27 of designation for a rescue vehicle to be accompanied by a 28 letter of approval from the sheriff or emergency management 29 coordinator of the county of the vehicle owner’s residence. 30 This provision of the bill does not apply to a rescue vehicle 31 designated as an authorized emergency vehicle prior to July 32 1, 2018, or to any other rescue vehicle owned by a person who 33 owns or has owned a rescue vehicle designated as an authorized 34 emergency vehicle prior to July 1, 2018. 35 -2- LSB 5914YH (5) 87 ns/rh 2/ 2