VEH CD-USE OF GREEN LIGHTS

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB5545

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB5545

Introduced 2/13/2026, by Rep. Brad Stephens

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

625 ILCS 5/12-215

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Allows the use of green
oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights on motor vehicles or equipment
used by contractors, engineering or survey crews, or union representatives
engaged in work on a highway. Provides that such lights shall not be
lighted except while such vehicles are actually engaged in work on a
highway.
LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b

A BILL FOR

HB5545
LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

AN ACT concerning transportation.

2

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3
represented in the General Assembly:

4

Section 5.
The Illinois Vehicle Code is amended by
5
changing Section 12-215 as follows:

6

(625 ILCS 5/12-215)
7

Sec. 12-215.
Oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights on
8
motor vehicles.
Except as otherwise provided in this Code:
9

(a) The use of red or white oscillating, rotating, or
10
flashing lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited
11
except on:
12

1. Law enforcement vehicles of State, federal, or
13

local authorities;
14

2. A vehicle operated by a police officer or county
15

coroner and designated or authorized by local authorities,
16

in writing, as a law enforcement vehicle; however, such
17

designation or authorization must be carried in the
18

vehicle;
19

2.1. A vehicle operated by a fire chief, deputy fire
20

chief, assistant fire chief, or a chief of a Mutual Aid Box
21

Alarm System who has completed an emergency vehicle
22

operation training course approved by the Office of the
23

State Fire Marshal and designated or authorized by local

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

authorities, fire departments, fire protection districts,
2

or Mutual Aid Box Alarm Systems, in writing, as a fire
3

department, fire protection district, township fire
4

department, or Mutual
Aid

Aide
Box Alarm System vehicle;
5

however, the designation or authorization must be carried
6

in the vehicle, and the lights may be visible or activated
7

only when responding to a bona fide emergency;
8

3. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
9

federal firefighting vehicles;
10

4. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively as
11

ambulances or rescue vehicles; furthermore, such lights
12

shall not be lighted except when responding to an
13

emergency call for and while actually conveying the sick
14

or injured;
15

4.5. Vehicles operated by an EMS chief that are
16

affixed with EMS chief special registration plates or
17

vehicles
that

which
are occasionally used as rescue
18

vehicles that have been authorized for use as rescue
19

vehicles by a volunteer EMS provider, provided that the
20

operator of the vehicle has successfully completed an
21

emergency vehicle operation training course recognized by
22

the Department of Public Health; furthermore, the lights
23

shall not be lighted except when responding to an
24

emergency call for the sick or injured;
25

5. Tow trucks licensed in a state that requires such
26

lights; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

any such tow truck while the tow truck is operating in the
2

State of Illinois;
3

6. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management
4

Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
5

Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public
6

Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of
7

Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of
8

Juvenile Justice;
9

7. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
10

management services agency as defined in the Illinois
11

Emergency Management Agency Act;
12

8. School buses operating alternately flashing head
13

lamps as permitted under Section 12-805 of this Code;
14

9. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as
15

organ transplant vehicles when used in combination with
16

blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights;
17

furthermore, these lights shall be lighted only when the
18

transportation is declared an emergency by a member of the
19

transplant team or a representative of the organ
20

procurement organization;
21

10. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
22

Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives
23

emergency response;
24

11. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of
25

Transportation identified as Emergency Traffic Patrol; the
26

lights shall not be lighted except when responding to an

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

emergency call or when parked or stationary while engaged
2

in motor vehicle assistance or at the scene of the
3

emergency; and
4

12. Vehicles of the Illinois State Toll Highway
5

Authority with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000
6

pounds or more and those identified as Highway Emergency
7

Lane Patrol; the lights shall not be lighted except when
8

responding to an emergency call or when parked or
9

stationary while engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at
10

the scene of the emergency.
11

(b) The use of amber oscillating, rotating, or flashing
12
lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
13

1. Second division vehicles designed and used for
14

towing or hoisting vehicles; furthermore, such lights
15

shall not be lighted except as required in this paragraph
16

1; such lights shall be lighted when such vehicles are
17

actually being used at the scene of a crash or
18

disablement; if the towing vehicle is equipped with a flat
19

bed that supports all wheels of the vehicle being
20

transported, the lights shall not be lighted while the
21

vehicle is engaged in towing on a highway; if the towing
22

vehicle is not equipped with a flat bed that supports all
23

wheels of a vehicle being transported, the lights shall be
24

lighted while the towing vehicle is engaged in towing on a
25

highway during all times when the use of headlights is
26

required under Section 12-201 of this Code; in addition,

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

these vehicles may use white oscillating, rotating, or
2

flashing lights in combination with amber oscillating,
3

rotating, or flashing lights as provided in this
4

paragraph;
5

2. Motor vehicles or equipment of the State of
6

Illinois, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, local
7

authorities, and contractors; furthermore, such lights
8

shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are
9

engaged in maintenance or construction operations within
10

the limits of construction projects;
11

3. Vehicles or equipment used by engineering or survey
12

crews; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted
13

except while such vehicles are actually engaged in work on
14

a highway;
15

4. Vehicles of public utilities, municipalities, or
16

other construction, maintenance, or automotive service
17

vehicles except that such lights shall be lighted only as
18

a means for indicating the presence of a vehicular traffic
19

hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking,
20

or passing while such vehicles are engaged in maintenance,
21

service, or construction on a highway;
22

5. Oversized vehicle or load; however, such lights
23

shall only be lighted when moving under permit issued by
24

the Department under Section 15-301 of this Code;
25

6. The front and rear of motorized equipment owned and
26

operated by the State of Illinois or any political

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

subdivision thereof, which is designed and used for
2

removal of snow and ice from highways;
3

6.1. The front and rear of motorized equipment or
4

vehicles that (i) are not owned by the State of Illinois or
5

any political subdivision of the State, (ii) are designed
6

and used for removal of snow and ice from highways and
7

parking lots, and (iii) are equipped with a snow plow that
8

is 12 feet in width; these lights may not be lighted except
9

when the motorized equipment or vehicle is actually being
10

used for those purposes on behalf of a unit of government;
11

7. Fleet safety vehicles registered in another state,
12

furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except as
13

provided for in Section 12-212 of this Code;
14

8. Such other vehicles as may be authorized by local
15

authorities;
16

9. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
17

authorities when used in combination with red oscillating,
18

rotating, or flashing lights;
19

9.5. Propane delivery trucks;
20

10. Vehicles used for collecting or delivering mail
21

for the United States Postal Service provided that such
22

lights shall not be lighted except when such vehicles are
23

actually being used for such purposes;
24

10.5. Vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State
25

Fire Marshal, provided that such lights shall not be
26

lighted except for when such vehicles are engaged in work

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

for the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal;
2

11. Any vehicle displaying a slow-moving vehicle
3

emblem as provided in Section 12-205.1;
4

12. All trucks equipped with self-compactors or
5

roll-off hoists and roll-on containers for garbage,
6

recycling, or refuse hauling. Such lights shall not be
7

lighted except when such vehicles are actually being used
8

for such purposes;
9

13. Vehicles used by a security company, alarm
10

responder, control agency, or the Illinois Department of
11

Corrections;
12

14. Security vehicles of the Department of Human
13

Services; however, the lights shall not be lighted except
14

when being used for security related purposes under the
15

direction of the superintendent of the facility where the
16

vehicle is located; and
17

15. Vehicles of union representatives, except that the
18

lights shall be lighted only while the vehicle is within
19

the limits of a construction project.
20

(c) The use of blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing
21
lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
22

1. Rescue squad vehicles not owned by a fire
23

department or fire protection district and vehicles owned
24

or operated by an EMS chief as provided in subsection (a);
25

a voluntary firefighter; a paid firefighter; a part-paid
26

firefighter; a call firefighter; a member of the board of

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

trustees of a fire protection district; a paid or unpaid
2

member of a rescue squad; a paid or unpaid member of a
3

voluntary ambulance unit; or a paid or unpaid
member

4

members
of a local or county emergency management services
5

agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency Management
6

Agency Act, designated or authorized by local authorities,
7

in writing, and carrying that designation or authorization
8

in the vehicle.
9

However, such lights are not to be lighted except when
10

responding to a bona fide emergency or when parked or
11

stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance
12

call, or motor vehicle crash.
13

Any person using these lights in accordance with this
14

subdivision (c)1 must carry on his or her person an
15

identification card or letter identifying the bona fide
16

member of a fire department, fire protection district,
17

rescue squad, ambulance unit, or emergency management
18

services agency that owns or operates that vehicle. The
19

card or letter must include:
20

(A) the name of the fire department, fire
21

protection district, rescue squad, ambulance unit, or
22

emergency management services agency;
23

(B) the member's position within the fire
24

department, fire protection district, rescue squad,
25

ambulance unit, or emergency management services
26

agency;

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

(C) the member's term of service; and
2

(D) the name of a person within the fire
3

department, fire protection district, rescue squad,
4

ambulance unit, or emergency management services
5

agency to contact to verify the information provided.
6

2. Police department vehicles in cities having a
7

population of 500,000 or more inhabitants.
8

3. Law enforcement vehicles of State or local
9

authorities when used in combination with red oscillating,
10

rotating, or flashing lights.
11

4. Vehicles of local fire departments and State or
12

federal firefighting vehicles when used in combination
13

with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
14

5. Vehicles which are designed and used exclusively as
15

ambulances or rescue vehicles when used in combination
16

with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights;
17

furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except when
18

responding to an emergency call.
19

6. Vehicles that are equipped and used exclusively as
20

organ transport vehicles when used in combination with red
21

oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights; furthermore,
22

these lights shall only be lighted when the transportation
23

is declared an emergency by a member of the transplant
24

team or a representative of the organ procurement
25

organization.
26

7. Vehicles of the Illinois Emergency Management

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

Agency, vehicles of the Office of the Illinois State Fire
2

Marshal, vehicles of the Illinois Department of Public
3

Health, vehicles of the Illinois Department of
4

Corrections, and vehicles of the Illinois Department of
5

Juvenile Justice, when used in combination with red
6

oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
7

8. Vehicles operated by a local or county emergency
8

management services agency as defined in the Illinois
9

Emergency Management Agency Act, when used in combination
10

with red oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
11

9. Vehicles of the Illinois Department of Natural
12

Resources that are used for mine rescue and explosives
13

emergency response, when used in combination with red
14

oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights.
15

(c-1) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or
16
flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and
17
notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a
18
voluntary firefighter, a voluntary member of a rescue squad,
19
or a member of a voluntary ambulance unit may be equipped with
20
flashing white headlights and blue grill lights, which may be
21
used only in responding to an emergency call or when parked or
22
stationary at the scene of a fire, rescue call, ambulance
23
call, or motor vehicle crash.
24

(c-2) In addition to the blue oscillating, rotating, or
25
flashing lights permitted under subsection (c), and
26
notwithstanding subsection (a), a vehicle operated by a paid

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1
or unpaid member of a local or county emergency management
2
services agency as defined in the Illinois Emergency
3
Management Agency Act, may be equipped with white oscillating,
4
rotating, or flashing lights to be used in combination with
5
blue oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, if
6
authorization by local authorities is in writing and carried
7
in the vehicle.
8

(d) The use of a combination of amber and white
9
oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights, whether lighted or
10
unlighted, is prohibited except on second division vehicles
11
designed and used for towing or hoisting vehicles or motor
12
vehicles or equipment of the State of Illinois, local
13
authorities, contractors, and union representatives;
14
furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted on second
15
division vehicles designed and used for towing or hoisting
16
vehicles or vehicles of the State of Illinois, local
17
authorities, and contractors except while such vehicles are
18
engaged in a tow operation, highway maintenance, or
19
construction operations within the limits of highway
20
construction projects, and shall not be lighted on the
21
vehicles of union representatives except when those vehicles
22
are within the limits of a construction project.
23

(d-5) The use of green oscillating, flashing, or rotating
24
lights, whether lighted or unlighted, is prohibited except on:
25

1. Second division vehicles designed and used for
26

towing or hoisting vehicles when the lights on those

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

vehicles are used in combination with amber or amber and
2

white oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights;
3

furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted except when
4

such vehicles are actually being used at the scene of a
5

crash or disablement.
6

2. Motor vehicles or equipment of the State of
7

Illinois when the lights on those vehicles or equipment
8

are used in combination with amber or amber and white
9

oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights; furthermore,
10

such lights shall not be lighted except while such
11

vehicles or equipment are engaged in maintenance
12

operations, snow and ice removal operations, or performing
13

traffic control and protection duties while at an
14

emergency scene.
15

3. Motor vehicles of the Department of Transportation
16

identified as Emergency Traffic Patrol when the lights on
17

those vehicles are used in combination with red and white
18

oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights when responding
19

to an emergency call or when parked or stationary while
20

engaged in motor vehicle assistance or at an emergency
21

scene.
22

4. Motor vehicles of the Illinois State Toll Highway
23

Authority when the lights on those vehicles are used in
24

combination with amber oscillating, flashing, or rotating
25

lights; furthermore, such lights shall not be lighted
26

except while such vehicles are engaged in maintenance

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

operations, snow and ice removal operations, or performing
2

traffic control and protection duties while at an
3

emergency scene.
4

5. Motor vehicles of the Illinois State Toll Highway
5

Authority with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000
6

pounds or more and those identified as Highway Emergency
7

Lane Patrol when the lights on those vehicles are used in
8

combination with red and white oscillating, flashing, or
9

rotating lights when responding to an emergency call or
10

when parked or stationary while engaged in motor vehicle
11

assistance or at the scene of the emergency.
12

6. Motor vehicles or equipment of local authority or
13

municipalities which perform highway maintenance
14

operations, when the lights on those vehicles are used in
15

combination with amber or amber and white oscillating,
16

flashing, or rotating lights; furthermore, such lights
17

shall not be lighted except while such vehicles are
18

engaged in the maintenance operations, snow and ice
19

removal operations, or performing traffic control and
20

protection duties while at an emergency scene.
21

7. Fire department vehicles of local fire departments
22

and State or federal firefighting vehicles when the lights
23

on those vehicles are used in combination with red, or red
24

and white, or red and blue, oscillating, rotating, or
25

flashing lights.
26

8. Vehicles used by a security company when the lights

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1

on those vehicles are used in combination with amber
2

oscillating, flashing, or rotating lights; furthermore,
3

such lights shall not be lighted except when the vehicle
4

is being operated upon the property or location where the
5

security company is employed to perform security or crime
6

prevention duties.
7

9. Ambulances or rescue vehicles operating in counties
8

with populations of less than 2,000,000.
9

10. Motor vehicles or equipment used by contractors,
10

engineering or survey crews, or union representatives
11

engaged in work on a highway; furthermore, such lights
12

shall not be lighted except while the vehicles are
13

actually engaged in work on a highway.

14

(d-10) Fire department vehicles of local fire departments
15
and State or federal firefighting vehicles, police vehicles of
16
State, federal, or local authorities, and vehicles designated
17
by local or State authority, while parked at an emergency
18
scene, may use a steady-on illumination or steady-burn, or
19
flashing green beacon or beacons if such steady-on,
20
steady-burn, or flashing beacon is used to indicate an
21
emergency operations command post or incident command
22
location.
23

(e) All oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights referred
24
to in this Section shall be of sufficient intensity, when
25
illuminated, to be visible at 500 feet in normal sunlight.
26

(f) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a manufacturer

HB5545
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LRB104 19460 LNS 32908 b
1
of oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights or his
2
representative or authorized vendor from temporarily mounting
3
such lights on a vehicle for demonstration purposes only. If
4
the lights are not covered while the vehicle is operated upon a
5
highway, the vehicle shall display signage indicating that the
6
vehicle is out of service or not an emergency vehicle. The
7
signage shall be displayed on all sides of the vehicle in
8
letters at least 2 inches tall and one-half inch wide. A
9
vehicle authorized to have oscillating, rotating, or flashing
10
lights mounted for demonstration purposes may not activate the
11
lights while the vehicle is operated upon a highway.
12

(g) Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a),
13
(b), (c), (d), (d-5), or (d-10) of this Section who without
14
lawful authority stops or detains or attempts to stop or
15
detain another person shall be guilty of a Class 2 felony.
16

(h) Except as provided in subsection (g) above, any person
17
violating the provisions of subsection (a) or (c) of this
18
Section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
19
(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-667, eff. 1-1-25;
20
104-81, eff. 1-1-26; 104-213, eff. 1-1-26; revised 11-21-25.)

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