Minnesota Session Laws - 2009, Regular Session

CHAPTER 56--S.F.No. 1467

An act

relating to traffic regulations; amending provisions related to speed limits;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 169.011, subdivisions 64, 90, by adding a subdivision; 169.14, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, subdivision 64, is amended to read:

Subd. 64.

Residential roadway.

"Residential roadway" means a new text begin city new text end street or deleted text begin portion of a street deleted text end new text begin town road new text end that is less than one-half mile in new text begin total new text end length deleted text begin and is functionally classified as a local street by the road authority having jurisdiction deleted text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 69a. new text end

new text begin Rural residential district. new text end

new text begin (a) "Rural residential district" means the territory contiguous to and including any city street or town road that is built up with visible dwelling houses situated at intervals averaging 300 feet or less for a distance of a quarter of a mile or more. new text end

new text begin (b) For purposes of this subdivision, "interval" means the distance, measured along the centerline of the roadway, between the primary access points for adjacent dwelling houses, regardless of whether the dwelling houses are located on the same side of the road. new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, subdivision 90, is amended to read:

Subd. 90.

Urban district.

"Urban district" means the territory contiguous to and including any new text begin city new text end street deleted text begin which deleted text end new text begin or town road that new text end is built up with structures devoted to business, industry, or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than 100 feet for a distance of a quarter of a mile or more.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, 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 deleted text begin or on a town road in a rural residential district deleted text end ;

(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) 55 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; deleted text begin and deleted text end

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

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

(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) deleted text begin For purposes of this subdivision, "rural residential district" means the territory contiguous to and including any town road within a subdivision or plat of land that is built up with dwelling houses at intervals of less than 300 feet for a distance of one-quarter mile or more. deleted text end new text begin 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. new text end

(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.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.14, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 5f. new text end

new text begin Speed limits on certain rural residential districts. new text end

new text begin (a) A rural residential district existing and lawfully signed before August 1, 2009, continues to qualify as a rural residential district. new text end

new text begin (b) A rural residential district existing and lawfully signed before August 1, 2009, is subject to the speed limit signed before August 1, 2009. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2009. Paragraph (b) expires when the speed limit signs erected before August 1, 2009, are replaced. new text end

Presented to the governor May 6, 2009

Signed by the governor May 9, 2009, 4:13 p.m.