CHAPTER 2. STATE TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAMS
IC 9-27-2
Chapter 2. State Traffic Safety Programs
IC 9-27-2-1
Office defined
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "office" refers to the office oftraffic safety.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15.
IC 9-27-2-2
Office of traffic safety; creation; responsibility; purpose
Sec. 2. The office of traffic safety is created within the Indianacriminal justice institute. The office is responsible for the state'straffic safety program. The purpose of this office is to develop andconduct effective programs and activities for the facilitation of trafficand for the protection and conservation of life and property onIndiana streets and highways.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.39-1993, SEC.8.
IC 9-27-2-3
Director of traffic safety; appointment; term; qualifications; duties
Sec. 3. (a) The governor shall appoint a director of traffic safetywho serves at the pleasure of the governor.
(b) The director is the administrative head of the office of trafficsafety, subject to the authority of the director of the Indiana criminaljustice institute. The director of traffic safety shall develop, plan, andexecute the functions and duties prescribed by this chapter.
(c) The director of traffic safety must be a person qualified bytraining and experience in traffic safety and traffic accidentprevention measures.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.39-1993, SEC.9.
IC 9-27-2-4
Office; powers and duties
Sec. 4. The office shall do the following to carry out this chapter:
(1) Develop, plan, and conduct programs and activities designedto prevent and reduce traffic accidents and to facilitate thecontrol of traffic on Indiana streets and highways.
(2) Advise, recommend, and consult with state departments,divisions, boards, commissions, and agencies concerning trafficsafety, accident prevention, and traffic facilitation programs andactivities and coordinate these programs and activities on aneffective statewide basis.
(3) Organize and conduct, in cooperation with state departmentsand agencies, programs, services, and activities designed to aidpolitical subdivisions in the control of traffic and prevention oftraffic accidents.
(4) Develop informational, educational, and promotionalmaterial on traffic control and traffic accident prevention,disseminate the material through all possible means of public
information, and serve as a clearinghouse for information andpublicity on traffic control and accident prevention programsand activities of state departments and agencies. Theseactivities must include materials and information designed tomake senior citizens aware of the effect of age on drivingability.
(5) Cooperate with public and private agencies interested intraffic control and traffic accident prevention in thedevelopment and conduct of public informational andeducational activities designed to promote traffic safety or tosupport the official traffic safety program of Indiana.
(6) Study and determine the merits of proposals affecting trafficcontrol, traffic safety, or traffic accident prevention activities inIndiana and recommend to the governor and the generalassembly the measures that will serve to further control andreduce traffic accidents.
(7) Study proposed revisions and amendments to the motorvehicle laws and all other laws concerning traffic safety andmake recommendations relative to those laws to the governorand general assembly.
(8) Develop and conduct a program of effective alcohol anddrug countermeasures to protect and conserve life and propertyon Indiana streets and highways.
(9) Administer the operation lifesaver program referred to insection 12 of this chapter to promote and coordinate publiceducation concerning railroad grade crossing safety.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.210-2005,SEC.54.
IC 9-27-2-5
Office; additional powers and duties
Sec. 5. The office may do what is reasonable and necessary tocarry out this chapter, including the following:
(1) Recommend to state agencies and departments measures forthe control of traffic and for the prevention of traffic accidents.
(2) Study and inspect at any time the traffic control and trafficaccident prevention activities and operations of state agenciesand departments.
(3) Call meetings of the heads or employees of state agenciesand departments to discuss traffic control or traffic accidentprevention measures.
(4) Request information, special studies, and reports from stateagencies and departments on matters concerning the control oftraffic or the prevention of traffic accidents on Indiana streetsand highways.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15.
IC 9-27-2-6
Rules
Sec. 6. The Indiana criminal justice institute may adopt rules
under IC 4-22-2 to carry out this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.39-1993, SEC.10.
IC 9-27-2-7
Authority of office supplemental to traffic safety functions ofdepartment of transportation and state police department
Sec. 7. The authority of the office supplements and does notreplace the traffic safety functions of the Indiana department oftransportation or the state police department.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15.
IC 9-27-2-8
Cooperation; state governmental entities
Sec. 8. The head of each Indiana department, division, bureau,commission, and agency shall cooperate with the office and providefull information on all plans, operations, activities, and programs ofthe respective agency or department that are directly related to trafficcontrol or traffic accident prevention. The governor may direct thatassistance be given to the office, in the performance of the duties ofthe office, by any officer, employee, or agent of the state. At therequest of the office and with the approval of the governor, the headof a state agency or department shall assign temporarily to the officethe technicians or other employees needed to carry out this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15.
IC 9-27-2-9
Gifts or grants; authority to accept
Sec. 9. (a) The office, with the approval of the governor, mayaccept on behalf of the state a gift or grant of money for a purposespecified in this chapter.
(b) A gift or grant under this chapter shall be held by the treasurerof state in a special fund and expended in accordance with the termsof the gift or grant upon proper warrant or voucher drawn by theoffice.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15.
IC 9-27-2-10
Purdue University research and training center; training program
Sec. 10. (a) The office and each Indiana department, division,bureau, and other agency may cooperate with Purdue University inthe development of factual and scientific methods for the following:
(1) The control and prevention of traffic accidents.
(2) The conduct of research.
(3) Training and service programs designed to aid the office andthe departments and agencies in conducting effective activitiesrelated to the facilitation of motor vehicle traffic on streets andhighways and in the control and prevention of traffic accidents.
(b) Purdue University may do the following:
(1) Serve as the training and research center for the director oftraffic safety and for the state traffic safety advisory committee. (2) Develop and conduct for towns, cities, and other politicalsubdivisions of Indiana training programs, special studies,surveys, and other services in the field of public safety andtraffic accident prevention that are designed to aid politicalsubdivisions in the prevention and control of traffic accidentsand congestion.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15.
IC 9-27-2-11
Alcohol and drug countermeasures fund
Sec. 11. (a) The alcohol and drug countermeasures fund isestablished for the purpose of funding the programs and activitiesdeveloped and conducted under section 4(8) of this chapter. The fundshall be administered by the office. The fund consists of depositsmade under IC 33-37.
(b) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund notcurrently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the samemanner as other public funds may be invested.
(c) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does notrevert to the state general fund.
(d) At least sixty percent (60%) of the money in the alcohol anddrug countermeasures fund shall be used to supplement lawenforcement agencies in their efforts to apprehend persons whooperate vehicles while intoxicated. Money received by a lawenforcement agency from the fund may not be used to replace otherfunding of law enforcement services.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15. Amended by P.L.98-2004, SEC.77.
IC 9-27-2-12
Operation lifesaver advisory committee
Sec. 12. (a) The operation lifesaver advisory committee isestablished.
(b) The committee consists of eight (8) members to be appointedby and serve at the pleasure of the governor as follows:
(1) Two (2) members who represent railroad labor.
(2) Two (2) members who represent railroad management.
(3) Two (2) members who represent law enforcement.
(4) Two (2) members who represent other groups.
(c) The committee shall advise the director of traffic safety inmatters relating to the promotion and coordination of publiceducation concerning railroad grade crossing safety.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15.
IC 9-27-2-13
Schools, seminars, or courses conducted by driver safetyspecialists; participation fees; agreements; deposit of revenues
Sec. 13. (a) Driver safety specialists, acting for the bureau, mayconduct schools, seminars, or other courses for the benefit of localunits of government, other state agencies, federal agencies,organizations, or private businesses for the purpose of improving the
state's traffic safety climate.
(b) The bureau may impose a fee on participating individuals orgroups at a rate adequate to reimburse the state for the direct cost tothe state of conducting the educational programs.
(c) The bureau may enter into agreements as needed to meet thepurposes of this chapter.
(d) The revenue collected for the purpose of reimbursing the statefor the direct costs of the educational programs shall be deposited inthe motor vehicle highway account established under IC 8-14-1.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15.