AB 720

The Department of Transportation and local highway authorities may modify

the maximum speed limit applicable to highways under their respective jurisdictions

if DOT or the local highway authorities determine that the current maximum speed

limit is not reasonable or safe or that the current actual speed of traffic is not

reasonable or prudent. Under current law, if no other fixed speed limit is established

or posted, the maximum speed on a highway is 55 miles per hour. A local highway

authority may not reduce the speed limit on such a highway under its jurisdiction

by more than 10 miles per hour.

This bill provides that a local highway authority may reduce the speed limit on

such a highway under its jurisdiction by not more than 20 miles per hour. The bill

also provides that, if a local highway authority previously reduced the speed limit on

such a highway by 10 miles per hour or less, the local highway authority may further

reduce the speed limit for the highway to no lower than thirty-five miles per hour.