HF 2166 (LSB 5822YH (3) 88)

HOUSE FILE 2166

BY  HAGENOW

A BILL FOR

An Act increasing the speed limit on certain roads, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.285, subsection 3, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  Unless otherwise provided in this section or by other speed restrictions, the speed limit for all vehicular traffic shall be fifty-five sixty miles per hour.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.285, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Notwithstanding any other speed restrictions, the speed limit for all vehicular traffic on fully controlled-access, divided, multilaned highways is sixty-five seventy miles per hour. However, the speed limit for all vehicular traffic on highways that are part of the interstate road system, as defined in section 306.3, is seventy seventy-five miles per hour. The department may establish a speed limit of sixty-five seventy miles per hour on certain divided, multilaned highways not otherwise described in this paragraph.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Current law provides that the speed limit for all vehicular traffic is 55 miles per hour (mph) unless otherwise provided for by other speed restrictions. The speed limit on fully controlled-access, divided, multilaned highways is 65 mph. The speed limit on highways that are part of the interstate road system is 70 mph. The department of transportation (DOT) is allowed to establish a speed limit of 65 mph on certain divided, multilaned highways not already covered by Code section 321.285(5)(a).
   This bill increases the speed limit on certain roads. The bill provides that the speed limit for all vehicular traffic not otherwise provided for is 60 mph. The speed limit on fully controlled-access, divided, multilaned highways is 70 mph. The speed limit on highways that are part of the interstate road system is 75 mph. The speed limit the DOT is allowed to establish on certain divided, multilaned highways not already covered by Code section 321.285(5)(a) is increased to 70 mph.
   A violation of a speed restriction is punishable by a scheduled fine with the amount of the fine determined by the speed in excess of the limit under Code section 805.8A(5) (speed violations) or 805.8A(10) (school bus violations). However, a school bus violation of more than 10 mph in excess of the limit is not a scheduled violation and is punishable as a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days or a fine of at least $65 but not more than $625 or by both.