Relating to the speed limit on unpaved roads under county jurisdiction, and making penalties applicable

Under current law, the maximum speed limit on roads under county jurisdiction (secondary roads) is 55 miles per hour, unless such roads are not surfaced with concrete or asphalt, in which case the maximum speed limit is 55 miles per hour at any time between sunrise and sunset and 50 miles per hour at any time between sunset and sunrise. If, based on an engineering and traffic investigation, the board of supervisors finds that the speed limit on a secondary road under the board’s jurisdiction is greater than is reasonable and proper, the board is required to determine and declare a reasonable and proper speed limit and post signs giving notice of the speed limit. This bill reduces the maximum speed limit on secondary roads to 45 miles per hour if such roads are not surfaced with concrete or asphalt, regardless of daylight. The bill authorizes a county, when updating speed limit signs as a result of the bill, to attach nonpermanent overlays or stickers approved by the department of transportation to existing speed limit signs in order to display the new speed limit. The nonpermanent overlays or stickers may be used by the county until the applicable speed limit sign is replaced based on the county’s replacement schedule and any applicable specifications or requirements.285 is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine that varies depending on the excessive speed over the limit. The fine ranges from $30 for a speed in excess of the limit by not more than 5 miles per hour to $135 plus $5 for each mile per hour of excessive speed over 20 miles per hour over the limit, with increased fines in road work zones.