Senate File 18 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to lighted lamps on bicycles and bicycle
2riders, and including effective date provisions.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1   Section 1.  Section 321.385A, Code 2017, is amended to read
2as follows:
   3321.385A  Citation for unlighted headlamp, rear lamp, bicycle
4or rider lamp,
or rear registration plate light.
   51.  a.  A citation issued for failure to have headlamps
6as required under section 321.385 shall first provide for a
7seventy-two hour seventy-two-hour period within which the
8person charged with the violation shall replace or repair the
9headlamp.
   10b.  A citation issued for failure to have rear lamps as
11required under section 321.387 or a rear registration plate
12light as required under section 321.388 shall first provide for
13a seventy-two hour seventy-two-hour period within which the
14person charged with the violation shall replace or repair the
15lamps or light.
   16c.  A citation issued for failure to have a front lamp or
17rear lamp on a bicycle or on a bicycle rider as required under
18section 321.397 shall first provide for a seventy-two-hour
19period within which the person charged with the violation shall
20replace or repair the lamp or lamps.
   212.  If the person complies with the directive to replace
22or repair the headlamp, rear lamps, bicycle or rider lamp,
23 or rear registration plate light within the allotted time
24period, the citation shall be expunged. If the person fails to
25comply within the allotted time period, the citation shall be
26processed in the same manner as other citations.
   273.  A citation issued under this section shall include
28a written notice of replacement or repair which shall
29indicate the date of replacement or repair and the manner in
30which the replacement or repair occurred and which shall be
31returned to the issuing authority within the seventy-two hour
32
 seventy-two-hour time period.
33   Sec. 2.  Section 321.397, Code 2017, is amended to read as
34follows:
   35321.397  Lamps on bicycles and bicycle riders.
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   1Every At the times specified in section 321.384, a bicycle or
2its rider
shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting
3a white light, at the times specified in section 321.384,
4 visible from a distance of at least three hundred feet to
5the front and with a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light
6visible from a distance of three hundred feet to the rear;
7except that a red reflector may be used in lieu of a rear light
.
8A peace officer riding a police bicycle is not required to use
9either front or rear lamps if duty so requires.
10   Sec. 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect January 1,
112018.
12EXPLANATION
13The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
14the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   15Current law requires a bicycle to have a front lighted lamp
16and either a rear lighted lamp or a rear reflector at any time
17from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times when conditions
18such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting
19to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the
20highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead.
   21This bill requires a bicycle or its rider to have a front
22and rear lighted lamp during the stated periods of time, and
23does not allow a bicycle or its rider to equip a rear reflector
24in lieu of the rear lighted lamp. The scheduled fine for
25violating this provision is $25. However, the bill provides
26that a citation issued for failure to have a front lamp or rear
27lamp on a bicycle or on a bicycle rider must first provide
28for a 72-hour period within which the person charged with the
29violation shall replace or repair the lamp. If the person
30complies with the directive to replace or repair the bicycle or
31rider lamp, the citation must be expunged.
   32The bill takes effect January 1, 2018.
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