3/31/04-A bill that would allow state transportation officials to raise speed limits 5 mph on certain rural roadways has hit a dead end.
The Senate previously approved the proposal to allow – but not require – the Arizona Department of Transportation to raise the current 75 mph limit for all vehicles on interstate highways outside urban areas to 80 mph.
The Senate action sent SB1221 to the House, where Transportation Committee Chairman Gary Pierce said he wouldn’t allow his committee to consider it.
Pierce, R-Mesa, said he believes the bill is unnecessary and that he wants to gut the measure and use it as a vehicle for a different piece of legislation. The other legislation would require ADOT to study the effectiveness of median barriers on the Arizona 101 freeway in Scottsdale.

3/10/04-The Senate approved a bill 18-12 March 9 that would raise speed limits 5 mph on certain rural roadways.
The bill would permit the Arizona Transportation Department to raise the speed limit for all vehicles on rural interstate highways by 5 mph. That would take the maximum legal speed up to 80 mph.
SB1221, sponsored by Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, wouldn’t change another state law that permits judges to send someone to jail for 30 days and impose a $500 fine for speeds in excess of 85 mph.
The measure now heads to the House for consideration. For bill status, call (602) 542-3559.

2/20/04-The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Transportation has approved a bill that would raise speed limits 5 mph on certain rural roadways.
The Senate panel voted Feb. 17 to permit the state to raise the speed limit for all vehicles on rural interstate highways by 5 mph. That would take the maximum legal speed up to 80 mph.
The vote came after Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert, agreed to modify his original proposal, which also would have boosted the top speed on other highways to 70 mph.
SB1221, which now heads to the Senate floor for discussion, wouldn’t change another state law that permits judges to send someone to jail for 30 days and impose a $500 fine for speeds in excess of 85 mph.
For Senate bill status, call (602) 542-3559.