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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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 RSA 265:63 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: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.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 30, 2018 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 8, 2018 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 3, 2018 | House | Hearing |
| April 17, 2018 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| April 26, 2018 | House | Floor Vote |
April 26, 2018: Inexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 177-117 04/26/2018
: Minority Committee Report: Ought to Pass
: Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate (Vote 8-7; RC)
April 26, 2018: Majority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for 04/26/2018 (Vote 8-7; RC) HC 16 P. 15
April 17, 2018: Executive Session: 04/17/2018 10:00 AM LOB 203
April 3, 2018: Public Hearing: 04/03/2018 10:00 AM LOB 203
March 7, 2018: Introduced 03/07/2018 and referred to Transportation HJ 7 P. 53
March 8, 2018: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2018-0759s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/08/2018; SJ 6
March 8, 2018: Committee Amendment # 2018-0759s, AA, VV; 03/08/2018; SJ 6
March 8, 2018: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2018-0759s, 03/08/2018; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
Jan. 30, 2018: Hearing: 01/30/2018, Room 103, LOB, 01:30 pm; SC 5
Jan. 3, 2018: To Be Introduced 01/03/2018 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 1