SF 1210

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 05/21/2013 03:27pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; modifying statutory speed limit; allowing residents
and property owners to petition for engineering and traffic investigation of
speed along trunk highway; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 169.14,
subdivisions 2, 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 169.14, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Speed limits.

(a) Where no special hazard exists the following speeds
shall be lawful, but any speeds in excess of such limits shall be prima facie evidence
that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful; except that the speed
limit within any municipality shall be a maximum limit and any speed in excess thereof
shall be unlawful:

(1) 30 miles per hour in an urban district;

(2) 65 miles per hour on noninterstate expressways, as defined in section 160.02,
subdivision 18b, and noninterstate freeways, as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 19;

(3) deleted text begin 55 deleted text end new text begin 60 new text end miles per hour in locations other than those specified in this section;

(4) 70 miles per hour on interstate highways outside the limits of any urbanized area
with a population of greater than 50,000 as defined by order of the commissioner of
transportation;

(5) 65 miles per hour on interstate highways inside the limits of any urbanized area
with a population of greater than 50,000 as defined by order of the commissioner of
transportation;

(6) ten miles per hour in alleys;

(7) 25 miles per hour in residential roadways if adopted by the road authority having
jurisdiction over the residential roadway; and

(8) 35 miles per hour in a rural residential district if adopted by the road authority
having jurisdiction over the rural residential district.

(b) A speed limit adopted under paragraph (a), clause (7), is not effective unless the
road authority has erected signs designating the speed limit and indicating the beginning
and end of the residential roadway on which the speed limit applies.

(c) A speed limit adopted under paragraph (a), clause (8), is not effective unless the
road authority has erected signs designating the speed limit and indicating the beginning
and end of the rural residential district for the roadway on which the speed limit applies.

(d) Notwithstanding section 609.0331 or 609.101 or other law to the contrary,
a person who violates a speed limit established in this subdivision, or a speed limit
designated on an appropriate sign under subdivision 4, 5, 5b, 5c, or 5e, by driving 20 miles
per hour or more in excess of the applicable speed limit, is assessed an additional surcharge
equal to the amount of the fine imposed for the speed violation, but not less than $25.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective upon the placement of conforming
signs designating the speed specified in this section by the commissioner of transportation
on affected trunk highways and by local authorities on affected streets and highways under
their jurisdictions. The placement of conforming signs must occur during the ordinary
course of placement and replacement of signs, but must be completed before January
1, 2025.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 169.14, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Establishment of zones by commissioner.

new text begin (a) Upon presentation to the
commissioner of a petition signed by: (1) ..... residents or owners of property located
within ..... miles of the identified trunk highway segment in an urban district under section
169.011, subdivision 90; or (2) ..... residents or owners of property located within ..... miles
of the identified trunk highway segment that is not in an urban district, the commissioner
shall undertake an engineering and traffic investigation of an appropriate segment of trunk
highway that includes the segment specified in the petition. An engineering and traffic
investigation of the trunk highway segment specified in the petition must not take place
until a minimum of five years has elapsed since the previous investigation.
new text end

new text begin (b) new text end On determining upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that
any speed set forth in this section is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the
conditions found to exist on any trunk highway or upon any part thereof, the commissioner
may erect appropriate signs designating a reasonable and safe speed limit thereat, which
speed limit shall be effective when such signs are erected. Any speeds in excess of such
limits shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is not reasonable or prudent and that
it is unlawful; except that any speed limit within any municipality shall be a maximum
limit and any speed in excess thereof shall be unlawful. On determining upon that basis
that a part of the trunk highway system outside a municipality should be a zone of
maximum speed limit, the commissioner may establish that part as such a zone by erecting
appropriate signs showing the beginning and end of the zone, designating a reasonable
and safe speed therefor, which may be different than the speed set forth in this section, and
that it is a zone of maximum speed limit. The speed so designated by the commissioner
within any such zone shall be a maximum speed limit, and speed in excess of such limit
shall be unlawful. The commissioner may in the same manner from time to time alter the
boundary of such a zone and the speed limit therein or eliminate such zone.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end