Assigned to TAT                                                                                                 AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1127

vehicle speed limits

Purpose

            Prohibits a person from exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 20 miles per hour (mph) in certain locations and modifies circumstances under which a waste of a finite resource citation may be issued.

Background

Current statute states that a person is prohibited from exceeding: 1) 35 mph when approaching a school crossing; 2) 20 mph over the posted speed limit in a business or residential area, or no more than 45 mph if there is no posted speed limit; and 3) 85 mph in other locations (A.R.S. § 28-701.02).

            If the maximum speed on a public highway in an urbanized area is 55 mph and a person drives on that highway at a speed of 65 mph or less, the person is guilty of a speeding offense that is designated as the waste of a finite resource. The waste of a finite resource is a civil traffic violation and is not considered when determining whether a person's driver license should be suspended or revoked or when determining a person's motor vehicle insurance rates. The civil penalty for the waste of a finite resource is $15 plus surcharges (A.R.S. § 28-702.01). If a person drives at a speed of 65 mph or more in a 55 mph zone, then the offense is designated as a civil traffic violation and is subject to a maximum $250 civil penalty plus surcharges (A.R.S. § 28-1598).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Prohibits a person from exceeding the posted speed limit by more than 20 mph in locations other than a school, residential area or business area.

2. States that an offense that involves exceeding the posted speed limit on a public highway in an urbanized area by not more than 10 mph may be designated as a waste of a finite resource violation.

3. States that an offense that involves exceeding the posted speed limit on a public highway in an urbanized area by more than 10 mph is a civil traffic violation subject to a $250 penalty with additional surcharges.

4. Specifies that waste of finite resource violations only apply on public highways with a posted speed limit of at least 30 mph.

5. Makes technical and conforming changes.

6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

· Modifies circumstances under which a waste of a finite resource violation may be issued for speeding violations.

Senate Action

TAT                 2/8/21        DPA       5-4-0

Prepared by Senate Research

February 10, 2021

ZD/kja