S-1170               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5481

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State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Senators Patterson and Vognild

Read first time 1/30/87 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

AN ACT Relating to speed limits; and amending RCW 46.61.405.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 2, chapter 16, Laws of 1963 as last amended by section 34, chapter 151, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. and RCW 46.61.405 are each amended to read as follows:

          Whenever the secretary of transportation shall determine upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that any maximum speed hereinbefore set forth is greater than is reasonable or safe with respect to a state highway under the conditions found to exist at any intersection or upon any other part of the state highway system or at state ferry terminals, or that a general reduction of any maximum speed hereinbefore set forth would aid in the conservation of energy resources, the secretary may determine and declare a reasonable and safe lower maximum limit or a lower maximum limit which will reasonably conserve energy resources, for any state highway, the entire state highway system, or any portion thereof, which shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected.  If 23 U.S.C. 154, relating to the national maximum speed limit, is repealed, the authority of the secretary to determine and declare a lower maximum speed for the purpose of aiding in the conservation of energy resources terminates ninety days after the repeal.  The secretary may also fix and regulate the speed of vehicles on any state highway within the maximum speed limit allowed by this chapter for special occasions including, but not limited to, local parades and other special events.  Any such maximum speed limit may be declared to be effective at all times or at such times as are indicated upon the said 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 (a) when posted upon appropriate fixed or variable signs or (b) if a maximum limit is established for auto stages which is lower than the limit for automobiles, the auto stage speed limit shall become effective thirty days after written notice thereof is mailed in the manner provided in subsection (4) of RCW 46.61.410((, as now or hereafter amended)).