SHB 1217 -
By Committee on Transportation
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 46.61.415 and 1977 ex.s. c 151 s 36 are each amended
to read as follows:
(1) Whenever local authorities in their respective jurisdictions
determine on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that
the maximum speed permitted under RCW 46.61.400 or 46.61.440 is greater
or less than is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist
upon a highway or part of a highway, the local authority may determine
and declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit thereon which
(a) Decreases the limit at intersections; or
(b) Increases the limit but not to more than sixty miles per hour;
or
(c) Decreases the limit but not to less than twenty miles per hour.
(2) Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions shall
determine by an engineering and traffic investigation the proper
maximum speed for all arterial streets and shall declare a reasonable
and safe maximum limit thereon which may be greater or less than the
maximum speed permitted under RCW 46.61.400(2) but shall not exceed
sixty miles per hour.
(3)(a) Cities and towns in their respective jurisdictions may
establish a maximum speed limit of twenty miles per hour on a
nonarterial highway, or part of a nonarterial highway, that is within
a residence district or business district. A city or town must hold a
public hearing on lowering the speed limit and must hold such hearing
at a time when the people most impacted by the lower speed limit would
be able to attend. A city or town legislative action to lower a speed
limit under this section is subject to any applicable referendum
procedure in place in the city or town.
(b) Counties, with a state university extension office located on
a state highway within their respective jurisdictions, may decrease the
maximum speed limit on the state highway on which the extension office
is located. The speed on such state highway may be less than the
maximum speed permitted under RCW 46.61.400(2).
(c) A speed limit established under this subsection by a city,
town, or county does not need to be determined on the basis of an
engineering and traffic investigation if the city, town, or county has
developed procedures regarding establishing a maximum speed limit under
this subsection. Any speed limit established under this subsection may
be canceled within one year of its establishment, and the previous
speed limit reestablished, without an engineering and traffic
investigation. This subsection does not otherwise affect the
requirement that cities, towns, and counties conduct an engineering and
traffic investigation to determine whether to increase speed limits.
(d) When establishing speed limits under this subsection, cities,
towns, and counties shall consult the manual on uniform traffic control
devices as adopted by the Washington state department of
transportation.
(e) Any reduction in a speed limit enacted by a local authority on
a nonarterial highway or state highway under this subsection may not be
targeted by law enforcement for repetitive, overzealous speed
enforcement for the sole purpose of generating a higher than average
number of citations.
(4) The secretary of transportation is authorized to establish
speed limits on county roads and city and town streets as shall be
necessary to conform with any federal requirements which are a
prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the state.
(((4))) (5) Any altered limit established as hereinbefore
authorized shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice
thereof are erected. Such maximum speed limit may be declared to be
effective at all times or at such times as are indicated upon such
signs; and differing limits may be established for different times of
day, different types of vehicles, varying weather conditions, and other
factors bearing on safe speeds, which shall be effective when posted
upon appropriate fixed or variable signs.
(((5))) (6) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b) of this
section, any alteration of maximum limits on state highways within
incorporated cities or towns by local authorities shall not be
effective until such alteration has been approved by the secretary of
transportation."
SHB 1217 -
By Committee on Transportation
On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "limits;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and amending RCW 46.61.415."
EFFECT: (1) Provides that any county that has a state university
extension office located on a state highway within its jurisdiction may
lower the speed limit on the state highway beyond the limit set in
statute. A county taking such action would not have to do a traffic
analysis study and also would not need the secretary of
transportation's approval in order to lower the speed limit.
(2) Specifies that a city or town adopting a lower speed limit must
hold a public hearing on lowering the speed limit, and the hearing must
be held at a time when the people most impacted by the lower speed
limit can attend.
(3) Also specifies that the legislative action by a city or town
lowering a speed limit is subject to referendum.
(4) Establishes a prohibition on law enforcement speed traps on a
nonarterial highway or state highway where the speed limit was lowered
pursuant to this act.