AB300: Bill Text

LRB-1936/2

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2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 300

April 23, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Pettis, Hahn, Musser, Hines, Miller, McCormick, Weber and Van Roy, cosponsored by Senator Harsdorf. Referred to Committee on Highway Safety.

AB300,1,3 An Act to amend 349.11 (2) (c), 349.11 (3) (c) and 349.11 (5); and to create 349.11 (2) (d) and 349.11 (11) of the statutes; relating to: the maximum speed limit on certain portions of the state trunk highway system.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, no person may drive a vehicle faster than the maximum speed limit provided by law. Unless a different maximum speed limit has been established by law, the maximum speed limit on the state trunk highway system is 55 miles per hour.

This bill provides that, on any portion of a state trunk highway having a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour that is within the limits of a village or town, the applicable village or town board may enact an ordinance reducing the maximum speed limit on the state trunk highway from 55 miles per hour to 45 miles per hour. Signs giving notice of the reduced maximum speed limit must be posted by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the village or town must reimburse DOT for the costs of erecting and maintaining such signs.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB300, s. 1 Section 1. 349.11 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB300,2,6 349.11 (2) (c) Modify Subject to par. (d), modify the statutory speed limit on more than 2,000 miles of state trunk highways. The first mile outside of and immediately adjacent to any incorporated municipality shall not be counted in computing such 2,000 miles. This paragraph does not apply to freeways or to expressways, as defined in s. 346.57 (1) (ag) and (am).

AB300, s. 2 Section 2. 349.11 (2) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB300,2,9 349.11 (2) (d) Increase a speed limit modified by a village or town board for a portion of the state trunk highway system under sub. (11).

AB300, s. 3 Section 3. 349.11 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB300,2,17 349.11 (3) (c) Modify any existing speed limit without the consent of the department except to reduce the speed limit as provided under sub. subs. (10) and (11), or to increase the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (e), (f) or (g), or to reduce by 10 miles per hour or less the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (a), (b) or (d) to (j), or to reduce by 15 miles per hour or less the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (k). Whenever department approval is required, no signs giving notice of a modification of the speed limit may be erected until such approval has been received.

AB300, s. 4 Section 4. 349.11 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB300,2,22 349.11 (5) Except as provided in sub. subs. (10) and (11), the department and local authorities shall place and maintain upon all highways, where the speed limit is modified by them pursuant to this section, standard signs giving notice of such speed. All speed limit signs so erected shall conform to the rules of the department.

AB300, s. 5 Section 5. 349.11 (11) of the statutes is created to read:

AB300,3,8 349.11 (11) Notwithstanding any speed limits imposed under this section or under s. 346.57, a village or town board may, by ordinance, reduce by 10 miles per hour the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (h) with respect to any portion of the state trunk highway system located within the limits of the village or town and having the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (h). No departmental approval is required for modification of a speed limit under this subsection. The department shall place and maintain, upon any portion of the state trunk highway system where the speed limit is modified under this subsection, official signs giving notice of such speed limit. Notwithstanding s. 84.07 (1), the applicable village or town shall reimburse the department for the costs of erecting and maintaining such signs.

AB300,3,9 (End)