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 of
traffic 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 Indiana
criminal justice institute. The office is responsible for the state's
traffic safety program. The purpose of this office is to develop and
conduct effective programs and activities for the facilitation of traffic
and for the protection and conservation of life and property on
Indiana 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 safety
who serves at the pleasure of the governor.
(b) The director is the administrative head of the office of traffic
safety, subject to the authority of the director of the Indiana criminal
justice institute. The director of traffic safety shall develop, plan, and
execute the functions and duties prescribed by this chapter.
(c) The director of traffic safety must be a person qualified by
training and experience in traffic safety and traffic accident
prevention 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 designed
to prevent and reduce traffic accidents and to facilitate the
control of traffic on Indiana streets and highways.
(2) Advise, recommend, and consult with state departments,
divisions, boards, commissions, and agencies concerning traffic
safety, accident prevention, and traffic facilitation programs and
activities and coordinate these programs and activities on an
effective statewide basis.
(3) Organize and conduct, in cooperation with state departments
and agencies, programs, services, and activities designed to aid
political subdivisions in the control of traffic and prevention of
traffic accidents.
(4) Develop informational, educational, and promotional
material on traffic control and traffic accident prevention,
disseminate the material through all possible means of public
information, and serve as a clearinghouse for information and
publicity on traffic control and accident prevention programs
and activities of state departments and agencies. These
activities must include materials and information designed to
make senior citizens aware of the effect of age on driving
ability.
(5) Cooperate with public and private agencies interested in
traffic control and traffic accident prevention in the
development and conduct of public informational and
educational activities designed to promote traffic safety or to
support the official traffic safety program of Indiana.
(6) Study and determine the merits of proposals affecting traffic
control, traffic safety, or traffic accident prevention activities in
Indiana and recommend to the governor and the general
assembly the measures that will serve to further control and
reduce traffic accidents.
(7) Study proposed revisions and amendments to the motor
vehicle laws and all other laws concerning traffic safety and
make recommendations relative to those laws to the governor
and general assembly.
(8) Develop and conduct a program of effective alcohol and
drug countermeasures to protect and conserve life and property
on Indiana streets and highways.
(9) Administer the operation lifesaver program referred to in
section 12 of this chapter to promote and coordinate public
education 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 to
carry out this chapter, including the following:
(1) Recommend to state agencies and departments measures for
the control of traffic and for the prevention of traffic accidents.
(2) Study and inspect at any time the traffic control and traffic
accident prevention activities and operations of state agencies
and departments.
(3) Call meetings of the heads or employees of state agencies
and departments to discuss traffic control or traffic accident
prevention measures.
(4) Request information, special studies, and reports from state
agencies and departments on matters concerning the control of
traffic or the prevention of traffic accidents on Indiana streets
and 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 of
department of transportation and state police department
Sec. 7. The authority of the office supplements and does not
replace the traffic safety functions of the Indiana department of
transportation 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 provide
full information on all plans, operations, activities, and programs of
the respective agency or department that are directly related to traffic
control or traffic accident prevention. The governor may direct that
assistance be given to the office, in the performance of the duties of
the office, by any officer, employee, or agent of the state. At the
request of the office and with the approval of the governor, the head
of a state agency or department shall assign temporarily to the office
the 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, may
accept on behalf of the state a gift or grant of money for a purpose
specified in this chapter.
(b) A gift or grant under this chapter shall be held by the treasurer
of state in a special fund and expended in accordance with the terms
of the gift or grant upon proper warrant or voucher drawn by the
office.
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 in
the 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 and
the departments and agencies in conducting effective activities
related to the facilitation of motor vehicle traffic on streets and
highways 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 of
traffic safety and for the state traffic safety advisory committee.
(2) Develop and conduct for towns, cities, and other political
subdivisions of Indiana training programs, special studies,
surveys, and other services in the field of public safety and
traffic accident prevention that are designed to aid political
subdivisions in the prevention and control of traffic accidents
and 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 is
established for the purpose of funding the programs and activities
developed and conducted under section 4(8) of this chapter. The fund
shall be administered by the office. The fund consists of deposits
made under IC 33-37.
(b) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
manner as other public funds may be invested.
(c) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not
revert to the state general fund.
(d) At least sixty percent (60%) of the money in the alcohol and
drug countermeasures fund shall be used to supplement law
enforcement agencies in their efforts to apprehend persons who
operate vehicles while intoxicated. Money received by a law
enforcement agency from the fund may not be used to replace other
funding 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 is
established.
(b) The committee consists of eight (8) members to be appointed
by 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 in
matters relating to the promotion and coordination of public
education 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 safety
specialists; participation fees; agreements; deposit of revenues
Sec. 13. (a) Driver safety specialists, acting for the bureau, may
conduct schools, seminars, or other courses for the benefit of local
units 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 or
groups at a rate adequate to reimburse the state for the direct cost to
the state of conducting the educational programs.
(c) The bureau may enter into agreements as needed to meet the
purposes of this chapter.
(d) The revenue collected for the purpose of reimbursing the state
for the direct costs of the educational programs shall be deposited in
the motor vehicle highway account established under IC 8-14-1.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.15.