Senate File 84 - Introduced SENATE FILE 84 BY SINCLAIR A BILL FOR An Act relating to requirements for the use of headlamps on 1 motor vehicles, and providing penalties. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 1532XS (1) 87 ns/nh

S.F. 84 Section 1. Section 321.384, Code 2017, 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 as 5 provided in section 321.415 during any of 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 discernable 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 2017, 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 2 , 35 -1- LSB 1532XS (1) 87 ns/nh 1/ 3

S.F. 84 paragraph “b” , subparagraph (2), section 321.256 , or 321.257 , 1 section 321.275, subsection 4 , section 321.276, 321.297 , 2 321.298 , 321.299 , 321.302 , 321.303 , 321.304 , 321.305 , 321.306 , 3 321.307 , or 321.308 , section 321.309, subsection 2 , or section 4 321.311 , 321.319 , 321.320 , 321.321 , 321.322 , 321.323 , 321.324 , 5 321.324A , 321.327 , 321.329 , or 321.333 , or section 321.372, 6 subsection 3 , or section 321.384 causing serious injury to or 7 the death of another person may be subject to the following 8 penalties in addition to the penalty provided for a scheduled 9 violation in section 805.8A or any other penalty provided by 10 law: 11 EXPLANATION 12 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 13 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 14 Under current law, the use of headlamps is required from 15 sunset to sunrise and at all other times when conditions such 16 as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting to 17 clearly see 500 feet ahead. This bill amends Code section 18 321.384 to require the operator of a motor vehicle to display 19 lighted headlamps from sunset to sunrise, whenever atmospheric 20 conditions require the use of windshield wipers, during any 21 period of rain, drizzle, sleet, hail, snow, blowing snow, 22 freezing rain, or ground-level fog, or whenever, due to 23 insufficient lighting or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, 24 persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible 25 at a distance of 1,000 feet. 26 The penalty for a violation of Code section 321.384 remains a 27 simple misdemeanor, punishable by a scheduled fine of $30. The 28 bill adds a violation of Code section 321.384 to the list of 29 traffic offenses for which additional penalties may be imposed 30 for a violation causing serious injury to or death of another 31 person. If the violation causes a serious injury, a court 32 could impose an additional fine of $500 or suspend the person’s 33 driver’s license for not more than 90 days, or both. If the 34 violation causes a death, a court could impose an additional 35 -2- LSB 1532XS (1) 87 ns/nh 2/ 3

S.F. 84 fine of $1,000 or suspend the person’s driver’s license for not 1 more than 180 days, or both. 2 The following Code sections contain provisions which are 3 linked to the times when headlamps are required under Code 4 section 321.384 and are therefore affected indirectly by the 5 bill: 6 Code section 321.235A, which requires the use of a headlight 7 and a rear reflector on electric personal assistive mobility 8 devices. 9 Code section 321.392, which requires the use of certain 10 lighting devices and reflectors on motor trucks. 11 Code section 321.394, which requires a red light to be 12 displayed on projecting loads. 13 Code section 321.395, which requires lighting on vehicles 14 stopped on an unlighted roadway or shoulder. 15 Code sections 321.397, 321.398, and 321.418, which describe 16 lighting requirements for bicycles, animal drawn vehicles, and 17 slow-moving vehicles. 18 Code section 321.405, which requires self-illumination of 19 mechanical signal devices. 20 Code sections 321.415 and 321.419, which provide 21 specifications for headlamps. 22 -3- LSB 1532XS (1) 87 ns/nh 3/ 3