PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 195, 620 PRINTER'S NO. 928
No. 213 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY WOZNIAK, GEIST, PESCI, TRELLO, STEELMAN,
VAN HORNE, ROONEY, PRESTON, L. I. COHEN, CLARK, BIRMELIN,
ROBERTS, TULLI, FLEAGLE, LEH, CARONE, BROWN, HERSHEY,
HUTCHINSON, DALEY, SURRA, WAUGH, McCALL, FARMER, TRAVAGLIO,
LAUGHLIN, RAYMOND, SHEEHAN, HALUSKA, CIVERA, FLICK,
STRITTMATTER, GODSHALL, YOUNGBLOOD, MERRY, BOSCOLA AND
SCHRODER, JANUARY 24, 1995
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
FEBRUARY 14, 1995
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, providing for a speed limit of 65 miles per hour on
3 rural interstate highways AND CERTAIN OTHER HIGHWAYS; AND <--
4 REQUIRING A STUDY.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Section 102 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
8 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
9 § 102. Definitions.
10 Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
11 provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
12 provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
13 used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
14 indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
15 * * *
16 "Interstate highway." A freeway on the Dwight D. Eisenhower
1 System of Interstate and Defense Highways.
2 * * *
3 Section 2. Sections 3362 and 6110(a) of Title 75 are amended
4 to read:
5 § 3362. Maximum speed limits.
6 (a) General rule.--Except when a special hazard exists that
7 requires lower speed for compliance with section 3361 (relating
8 to driving vehicle at safe speed), the limits specified in this
9 [subsection] section or established under this subchapter shall
10 be maximum lawful speeds and no person shall drive a vehicle at
11 a speed in excess of the following maximum limits:
12 (1) 35 miles per hour in any urban district.
13 (1.1) 65 miles per hour for passenger cars, motorcycles <--
14 and ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT trucks having a registered gross <--
15 weight of not more than 9,000 pounds: <--
16 (i) on interstate highways outside of urbanized
17 areas of population of 50,000 or more; and
18 (ii) on other freeways where the department has
19 posted a 65-mile-per-hour speed limit in accordance with
20 the provisions of 23 U.S.C. (relating to highways).
21 (2) 55 miles per hour in other locations.
22 (3) Any other maximum speed limit established under this
23 subchapter.
24 (b) Posting of speed limit.--No maximum speed limit <--
25 established under subsection (a)(1), (1.1) or (3) shall be
26 (B) POSTING OF SPEED LIMIT.-- <--
27 (1) NO MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBSECTION
28 (A)(1) OR (3) SHALL BE effective unless posted on fixed or
29 variable official traffic-control devices erected in
30 accordance with regulations adopted by the department which
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1 regulations shall require posting at the beginning and end of
2 each speed zone and at intervals not greater than one-half
3 mile.
4 (2) NO MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBSECTION <--
5 (A)(1.1) SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UNLESS POSTED ON FIXED OR
6 VARIABLE OFFICIAL TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES ERECTED AFTER EACH
7 INTERCHANGE ON THE PORTION OF HIGHWAY ON WHICH THE SPEED
8 LIMIT IS IN EFFECT AND WHEREVER ELSE THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
9 DETERMINE.
10 (c) Penalty.--Any person violating this section is guilty of
11 a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to
12 pay a fine of $35. Any person exceeding the maximum speed limit
13 by more than five miles per hour shall pay an additional fine of
14 $2 per mile for each mile in excess of five miles per hour over
15 the maximum speed limit.
16 § 6110. Regulation of traffic on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
17 (a) General rule.--The provisions of this title apply upon
18 any turnpike or highway under the supervision and control of the
19 Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission unless specifically modified by
20 rules and regulations promulgated by the commission which shall
21 become effective only upon publication in accordance with law. A
22 copy of the rules and regulations, so long as they are
23 effective, shall be posted at all entrances to the turnpike or
24 highway for the inspection of persons using the turnpike or
25 highway. This section does not authorize the establishment of a
26 maximum speed limit greater than 55 miles per hour[.], except
27 for passenger cars, motorcycles and trucks with a registered <--
28 gross weight of 9,000 pounds or less on interstate highways
29 outside of an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or
30 more. THAT A 65-MILES-PER-HOUR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT SHALL BE <--
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1 ESTABLISHED FOR ALL VEHICLES, EXCEPT TRUCKS WITH A REGISTERED
2 GROSS WEIGHT OF MORE THAN 9,000 POUNDS:
3 (1) ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS OUTSIDE OF URBANIZED AREAS OF
4 POPULATION OF 50,000 OR MORE; AND
5 (2) ON OTHER FREEWAYS WHERE THE COMMISSION HAS POSTED A
6 65-MILES-PER-HOUR SPEED LIMIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
7 PROVISIONS OF 23 UNITED STATES CODE (RELATING TO HIGHWAYS).
8 (A.1) POSTING.--NO MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT ESTABLISHED UNDER
9 SUBSECTION (A)(1) OR (2) SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UNLESS POSTED ON
10 FIXED OR VARIABLE OFFICIAL TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES ERECTED AFTER
11 EACH INTERCHANGE ON THE PORTION OF HIGHWAY ON WHICH THE SPEED
12 LIMIT IS IN EFFECT AND WHEREVER ELSE THE COMMISSION SHALL
13 DETERMINE.
14 * * *
15 SECTION 3. THE DESIGNATION OF A SPEED LIMIT IN EXCESS OF 55 <--
16 MILES PER HOUR AUTHORIZED UPON ANY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY OR
17 TURNPIKE SHALL REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE
18 PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE COMMISSION TO ISSUE A SAFETY REPORT TO THE
19 TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND THE TRANSPORTATION
20 COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE EFFECT OF SUCH
21 INCREASED SPEED LIMIT TO BE SUBMITTED AT A REASONABLE TIME AFTER
22 THE INCREASED SPEED LIMIT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT FOR AT LEAST ONE
23 YEAR.
24 Section 3 4. This act shall take effect in 90 days. <--
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