November 15, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Cowles and Feyen, cosponsored by Representatives Penterman, Behnke, Armstrong, Bodden, Callahan, Donovan, Edming, Kitchens, Maxey, Mursau, Novak, Rozar, Schmidt, Spiros, Tittl and Schraa. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government.
SB684,,22An Act to amend 349.11 (3) (c); and to create 349.11 (12) of the statutes; relating to: local authority to modify highway speed restrictions. SB684,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau The Department of Transportation and local highway authorities may modify the maximum speed limit applicable to highways under their respective jurisdictions if DOT or the local highway authorities determine that the current maximum speed limit is not reasonable or safe or that the current actual speed of traffic is not reasonable or prudent. Under current law, if no other fixed speed limit is established or posted, the maximum speed on a highway is 55 miles per hour. A local highway authority may not reduce the speed limit on such a highway under its jurisdiction by more than 10 miles per hour.
This bill provides that a local highway authority may reduce the speed limit on such a highway under its jurisdiction by not more than 20 miles per hour. The bill also provides that, if a local highway authority previously reduced the speed limit on such a highway by 10 miles per hour or less, the local highway authority may further reduce the speed limit for the highway to no lower than thirty-five miles per hour.
SB684,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: SB684,15Section 1. 349.11 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read: SB684,,66349.11 (3) (c) Modify any existing speed limit without the consent of the department except to reduce the speed limit as provided under sub. (10) or (12), or to increase the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (e), (f) or (g), or to reduce by 10 miles per hour or less the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (a), (b) or, (d) to (gm), (i), or (j), or to reduce by 15 miles per hour or less the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (k), or to reduce by 20 miles per hour or less the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (h). Whenever department approval is required, no signs giving notice of a modification of the speed limit may be erected until such approval has been received. SB684,27Section 2. 349.11 (12) of the statutes is created to read: SB684,,88349.11 (12) If a local authority reduced the speed limit stated in s. 346.57 (4) (h) for a highway under its jurisdiction as authorized under s. 349.11 (3) (c), 2021 stats., the local authority may further reduce the speed limit for that highway as provided in sub. (3) (c) but may not establish a speed limit below 35 miles per hour.
