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Bill > SF212
IA SF212
IA SF212A bill for an act relating to the speed limit on unpaved roads under county jurisdiction, and making penalties applicable.
summary
Introduced
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
In Committee
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
Under current law, the maximum speed limit on roads under county jurisdiction (secondary roads) is 55 miles per hour, unless such roads are not surfaced with concrete or asphalt, in which case the maximum speed limit is 55 miles per hour at any time between sunrise and sunset and 50 miles per hour at any time between sunset and sunrise. This bill reduces the maximum speed limit on secondary roads to 45 miles per hour if such roads are not surfaced with concrete or asphalt, regardless of daylight. The bill authorizes a county, when updating speed limit signs as a result of the bill, to attach nonpermanent overlays or stickers approved by the department of transportation to existing speed limit signs in order to display the new speed limit. The nonpermanent overlays or stickers may be used by the county until the applicable speed limit sign is replaced based on the county’s replacement schedule and any applicable specifications or requirements. A person who exceeds a speed limit under Code section 321.285 is guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine that varies depending on the excessive speed over the limit. The fine ranges from $30 for a speed in excess of the limit by not more than 5 miles per hour to $135 plus $5 for each mile per hour of excessive speed over 20 miles per hour over the limit, with increased fines in road work zones.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the speed limit regulations for unpaved secondary roads in Iowa by reducing the maximum speed limit from 55 miles per hour to 45 miles per hour, regardless of the time of day. Previously, unpaved roads had different speed limits for daytime (55 mph) and nighttime (50 mph), but this bill eliminates that distinction and sets a uniform 45 mph limit for unpaved county roads. The bill also provides counties with flexibility in implementing these new speed limits by allowing them to attach temporary, department-of-transportation-approved overlays or stickers to existing speed limit signs, rather than immediately replacing the entire sign. This approach enables counties to update speed limits more cost-effectively, using the overlays until they can replace signs according to their existing replacement schedule. The bill maintains the existing provision that allows county boards of supervisors to adjust speed limits based on engineering and traffic investigations, ensuring that speed limits can be tailored to specific road conditions. Penalties for speeding will continue to follow the existing schedule of fines, which increase based on how much the driver exceeds the posted speed limit.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Subcommittee: Klimesh, Townsend, and Zumbach. S.J. 218. (on 02/10/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF212 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF212.html |
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