BILL REQ. #:  H-0646.1 

Read first time 01/21/09.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     AN ACT Relating to speed limits on nonlimited access state highways within tribal reservation boundaries; and adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 46.61 RCW to read as follows:
      (1) Tribal authorities, within their reservation boundaries, may determine based on an engineering and traffic investigation that the maximum speed permitted under RCW 46.61.400 or 46.61.405 is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist upon a nonlimited access state highway or part of a nonlimited access state highway. Then, the tribal authority may determine and declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit thereon which:
     (a) Decreases the limit at intersections;
     (b) Increases the limit, not exceeding sixty miles per hour; or
     (c) Decreases the limit, not lower than twenty miles per hour.
     (2) Any alteration by tribal authorities of maximum limits on nonlimited access state highways that are also part of city streets within tribal reservation boundaries is not effective until that alteration has been approved by the necessary city authority and secretary of transportation.
     (3) Any alteration by tribal authorities of maximum limits on nonlimited access state highways within tribal reservation boundaries is not effective until that alteration has been approved by the secretary of transportation.