HF 160 (LSB 1996YH (1) 90)

HOUSE FILE 160

BY  SIEGRIST

A BILL FOR

An Act increasing the speed limit on the interstate road system.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.285, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code 2023, 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 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 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 highways that are part of the interstate road system is 70 mph.
   This bill increases the speed limit on highways that are part of the interstate road system to 75 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), 805.8A(10) (school bus violations), or 805.8A(14)(i) (road work zone 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 $105 but not more than $855 or by both.