CHAPTER 2. STATE TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAMS - Indiana Statutes

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.