Senate File 18 - Introduced
SENATE FILE BY D. JOHNSON A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to lighted lamps on bicycles and bicycle 2 riders, and including effective date provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1526SS (4) 87 ns/nh PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 321.385A, Code 2017, is amended to read 1 2 as follows: 1 3 321.385A Citation for unlighted headlamp, rear lamp, bicycle or rear registration plate light. 1 5 1. a. A citation issued for failure to have headlamps 1 6 as required under section 321.385 shall first provide for a 1 7 seventy=two hour seventy=two=hour period within which the 1 8 person charged with the violation shall replace or repair the 1 9 headlamp. 1 10 b. A citation issued for failure to have rear lamps as 1 11 required under section 321.387 or a rear registration plate 1 12 light as required under section 321.388 shall first provide for 1 13 a seventy=two hour seventy=two=hour period within which the 1 14 person charged with the violation shall replace or repair the 1 15 lamps or light. 1 16 c. A citation issued for failure to have a front lamp or 1 21 2. If the person complies with the directive to replace 1 22 or repair the headlamp, rear lamps, bicycle or rider lamp, 1 23 or rear registration plate light within the allotted time 1 24 period, the citation shall be expunged. If the person fails to 1 25 comply within the allotted time period, the citation shall be 1 26 processed in the same manner as other citations. 1 27 3. A citation issued under this section shall include 1 28 a written notice of replacement or repair which shall 1 29 indicate the date of replacement or repair and the manner in 1 30 which the replacement or repair occurred and which shall be 1 31 returned to the issuing authority within the seventy=two hour seventy=two=hour time period. 1 33 Sec. 2. Section 321.397, Code 2017, is amended to read as 1 34 follows: 1 35 321.397 Lamps on bicycles and bicycle riders. 2 1 Every At the times specified in section 321.384, a bicycle or shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting 2 3 a white light, at the times specified in section 321.384, 2 4 visible from a distance of at least three hundred feet to 2 5 the front and with a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light 2 6 visible from a distance of three hundred feet to the rear; . 2 8 A peace officer riding a police bicycle is not required to use 2 9 either front or rear lamps if duty so requires. 2 10 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect January 1, 2 11 2018. 2 12 EXPLANATION 2 13 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 14 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 15 Current law requires a bicycle to have a front lighted lamp 2 16 and either a rear lighted lamp or a rear reflector at any time 2 17 from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times when conditions 2 18 such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting 2 19 to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the 2 20 highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead. 2 21 This bill requires a bicycle or its rider to have a front 2 22 and rear lighted lamp during the stated periods of time, and 2 23 does not allow a bicycle or its rider to equip a rear reflector 2 24 in lieu of the rear lighted lamp. The scheduled fine for 2 25 violating this provision is $25. However, the bill provides 2 26 that a citation issued for failure to have a front lamp or rear 2 27 lamp on a bicycle or on a bicycle rider must first provide 2 28 for a 72=hour period within which the person charged with the 2 29 violation shall replace or repair the lamp. If the person 2 30 complies with the directive to replace or repair the bicycle or 2 31 rider lamp, the citation must be expunged. 2 32 The bill takes effect January 1, 2018. LSB 1526SS (4) 87 ns/nh