Bill Text: MS HB19 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Cities and counties; remove requirement that engineering/traffic investigation be completed before establishing speed limits.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2017-01-31 - Died In Committee [HB19 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2017-HB19-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Municipalities
By: Representative Wilson
House Bill 19
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-511, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES MAY ESTABLISH SPEED LIMITS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 63-3-511, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
63-3-511. Whenever local
authorities, including boards of supervisors, within their respective
jurisdictions, determine * * *upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation
that the speed permitted under this article on any street, or any county road
or any portion thereof, or at any intersection is greater than is reasonable or
safe under conditions found to exist upon such street, or any county road or
any portion thereof, or at such intersection, such local authorities shall
determine and declare, by ordinance, a reasonable and safe speed limit, which shall
be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected on such
street, or any county road or any portion thereof, or at such intersection, or
upon the approaches thereto. However, no speed limit shall be fixed by any
such local authorities at less than fifteen (15) miles per hour.
The Commissioner of Corrections is authorized to establish by regulation reasonable and safe speed limits upon the roads of the correctional facilities under his jurisdiction which shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected. Speed limits may be based upon road or traffic conditions or upon security considerations.
Provided, however, that
whenever the * * * Mississippi Transportation Commission shall, pursuant
to Section 63-3-503, lower the maximum speed limit in response to federal laws,
regulations or guidelines for purposes of energy conservation, local
authorities, including boards of supervisors, shall immediately lower maximum
speed limits on local highways, not to exceed a maximum speed of fifty-five
(55) miles per hour.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.
