Bills Introduced to Strip Communities of Control Over Speed Limits

Two bills were introduced early this morning that impact a local unit’s ability to manage speed limits on their own street network.  The bills, HB 6164 and 6165, were introduced by Representatives Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) and Rep. Bettie Cook Scott (D-Detroit) under their argument that the legislation would eliminate speed traps and prohibit communities from setting artificially low speed limits as a way to increase ticket revenue.  The initial review of the language in the bills, reveals a number of significant changes being proposed that could negatively impact municipalities.

-          The setting of speed limits throughout the state will all now be uniformly subject to speed studies and/or access point criteria laid out in the bill, no other community circumstances may be considered or involved, except in explicit situations.

-          Flexibility for speeds below 25 MPH has been eliminated, including for roads in parks and platted subdivisions.

-          It appears that all existing speed limits, on all roads must be reviewed subject to conducting a speed study or engineering study of access points and adjusted based upon those criteria or the speed limit will be unenforceable.

-          Any stretch of road ½ mile or longer shall have a speed limit sign posted.

-          The proposal prohibits speed limit signs on any street less than ½ mile in length and merely requires drivers adhere to a “careful and prudent speed.”

-          School zones may only exist for k-8^th grade buildings.  High schools and college campuses would no longer be considered schools under the act and no longer eligible for the creation of 25 MPH speed limit zones.  Engineering studies would now be required to implement a school zone and the ability of a school superintendent to request the zone or changes in speed limits around any school has been stripped under the proposal.

-          The bills would also strip townships of their ability to request a change in speed limits from the county road commission.

These bills were referred to the House Urban Policy committee, where their future consideration is unknown at this point.  The League will be engaging aggressively on these bills and working with legislators to preserve local control and prevent additional unfunded mandates.  Please contact your legislator if this legislation would impact your community.

Chris Hackbarth is the transportation policy advisor for the Michigan Municipal League.  Chris can be reached at 517-908-0303, or by email at chackbarth@mml.org.