AB625: Bill Text

LRB-3611/1

EVM:wlj:md

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 625

December 18, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Nelson, Zigmunt, Turner, Lothian, Ziegelbauer, Dexter, Sinicki and Berceau, cosponsored by Senators Hansen, Taylor, Vinehout and Lassa. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB625,1,2 An Act to amend 349.11 (3) (c) of the statutes; relating to: authority to modify speed limits in school zones.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and local highway authorities may increase or decrease the maximum speed limit applicable to highways under their respective jurisdiction if DOT or the local highway authorities determine that the current maximum speed limit in effect is not reasonable or safe or that the current actual speed of traffic is not reasonable or prudent. Local highway authorities are prohibited from modifying certain speed limits without the approval of DOT, including the reduction of most speed limits by more than ten miles per hour.

This bill allows local highway authorities to reduce a maximum speed limit on a county trunk highway in a designated school zone to not less than 25 miles per hour. The speed limit may be reduced without DOT approval.

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

AB625, s. 1 Section 1. 349.11 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB625,2,8 349.11 (3) (c) Modify any existing speed limit without the consent of the department except to reduce the speed limit as provided under sub. (10), 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), or to reduce to not less than 25 miles per hour, except locations governed by s. 346.57 (4) (a), (b), and (i), the speed limit on any county trunk highway in any zone designated by "school" warning signs as provided in s. 118.08 (1). 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.

AB625,2,9 (End)