Bill Text: NH SB522 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Relative to alteration of speed limits.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-04-26 - Inexpedient to Legislate: Motion Adopted DV 177-117 04/26/2018 [SB522 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2018-SB522-Amended.html

SB 522 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

03/08/2018   0759s

2018 SESSION

18-2975

03/08

 

SENATE BILL 522

 

AN ACT relative to alteration of speed limits.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Rep. Somssich, Rock. 27

 

COMMITTEE: Transportation

 

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 

This bill modifies the authorization for local authorities to alter speed limits.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03/08/2018   0759s 18-2975

03/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

 

AN ACT relative to alteration of speed limits.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Alteration of Speed Limits.  RSA 265:63 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

265:63  Alteration of Limits.   

I.  Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 265:60, or any other law to the contrary, whenever local authorities in their respective jurisdictions determine on the basis of an engineering or traffic investigation that the prima facie speed permitted under this chapter is greater or less than is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon any way or part of a way, the local authority may determine and declare a reasonable and safe prima facie limit thereon which:

(a)  Decreases the limit within any city or within any business or urban residence district or compact section of any city or town.

(b)  Decreases the limit within a rural residential district.

(c)  Increases the limit within an urban district but not to more than 60 miles per hour.

(d)  Decreases the limit at intersections.

II.  Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions shall determine by an engineering or traffic investigation the proper prima facie speed for all streets and shall declare a reasonable and safe prima facie limit thereon.

III.  Local authorities shall not be required to hire outside consultants to determine the proper prima facie speed limits as provided in paragraphs I and II if the local community has sufficient staff to conduct the required engineering or traffic investigation.

IV.  Local authorities shall not be required to conduct any additional investigation or study of a limit that, prior to the effective date of this paragraph, has been determined to be a reasonable and safe prima facie limit and appropriate signs giving notice thereof have been erected.

V.  Any altered limit established as hereinabove authorized shall be effective at all times or during hours of darkness or at other times as may be determined when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon such street or way.

VI.  Except for any way located in a compact section of any city or town designated pursuant to RSA 229:5, V, any alteration of limits on state highways or extensions thereof in a municipality by local authorities shall not be effective until such alteration has been approved by the commissioner of transportation.  

VII.  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, local authorities shall modify the speed limits authorized herein so that said speed limits shall not exceed the temporary prima facie speed limits established for the state highway system under RSA 265:62, II, so long as the same are in effect.

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

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