Traffic control: speed restrictions; determination in accordance with traffic engineering practices; modify. Amends sec. 628 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.628).
Impact
If enacted, this legislation will change how speed limits are determined on Michigan's county highways. By enabling local authorities to handle speed limit modifications through established procedures, it centralizes the decision-making process, thus potentially speeding up administrative actions while ensuring safety measures are enforced based on empirical studies. The bill also underscores the importance of maintaining public safety through engineered traffic assessments, aiming to reflect real-world traffic conditions accurately.
Summary
House Bill 4137 seeks to amend section 628 of the Michigan vehicle code, focusing specifically on the establishment and modification of speed limits on county highways. The bill proposes a process requiring the county road commission, township board, and department of state police to act unanimously based on an engineering and traffic investigation to set reasonable and safe speed limits. Additionally, it allows township boards to petition for changes in speed limits without necessarily conducting a speed study under certain conditions.
Contention
Despite its intentions, the bill may encounter contention related to the delegation of authority to local bodies. Critics might argue that while local input is important, the State should retain more control over traffic regulations to ensure uniformity across regions. Some stakeholders could express concerns regarding how engineering assessments are conducted and who ultimately bears the responsibility for setting speed limits, emphasizing the need for consistency in maintaining road safety across all jurisdictions.
Traffic control: speed restrictions; use of automated traffic enforcement devices in work zones to enforce speed limit reductions; allow. Amends secs. 79d, 907 & 909 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.79d et seq.) & adds secs. 2c, 627c & 907a. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4133'23
Traffic control: speed restrictions; speed limit enforcement mechanisms in school zones: provide for. Amends sec. 907 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.907) & adds secs. 79g & 627c. TIE BAR WITH: HB 5726'24
Traffic control: speed restrictions; speed limit on a highway closed to nonemergency motor vehicles; provide for. Amends 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.1 - 257.923) by adding sec. 628b.
Traffic control: traffic regulation; seasonal weight restrictions; revise exemption for tow truck, wrecker, or road service vehicles under certain circumstances. Amends sec. 722 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.722).
Traffic control: traffic regulation; requirement to drive in the right-hand lane of a roadway with 2 lanes for travel in 1 direction; modify. Amends sec. 634 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.634).
Traffic control: violations; penalties for operating a vehicle while sending or receiving a message on an electronic wireless device; enhance. Amends secs. 320a, 602b, 602c & 732 of 1949 PA 300 (MCL 257.320a et seq.).
Capital investment; spending authorized to acquire and better public land and buildings and for other improvements of a capital nature, new programs established and existing programs modified, prior appropriations modified and canceled, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
Requires posted speed limit on certain limited access highways be based on speed at which 85 percent of vehicles are traveling; designated as Speed Limit Sanity Act.