Senate Bill No. 70

(By Senators Bailey, Minard and Caldwell)

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[Introduced January 8, 2003; referred to the Committee on Transportation.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact section one, article six, chapter seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to traffic regulations; designating a minimum speed limit for the passing lane on interstate highways; and providing a misdemeanor penalty for violations.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section one, article six, chapter seventeen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6. SPEED RESTRICTIONS.

§17C-6-1. Speed limitations generally; penalty.
(a) No person may drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions and the actual and potential hazards. In every event speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highways in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.
(b) Where no special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with subsection (a) of this section, the speed of any vehicle not in excess of the limits specified in this section or otherwise lawfully established as hereinafter authorized is lawful, but any speed in excess of the limits specified in this subsection or otherwise lawfully established as hereinafter authorized is unlawful. The speeds set forth in this section may be altered as authorized in sections two and three of this article. The speed limit is:
(1) Fifteen miles per hour in a school zone during school recess or while children are going to or leaving school during opening or closing hours. A school zone is all school property including school grounds and any street or highway abutting such school grounds and extending one hundred twenty-five feet along such the street or highway from the school grounds. The speed restriction does not apply to vehicles traveling on a controlled-access highway which is separated from the school or school grounds by a fence or barrier approved by the division of highways;
(2) Twenty-five miles per hour in any business or residence district; and
(3) Fifty-five miles per hour on open country highways, except as otherwise provided by this chapter.
The speeds set forth in this section may be altered as authorized in sections two and three of this article.
(c) The driver of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway and when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.
(d) (1) The speed limit on controlled-access highways and interstate highways, where no special hazard exists that requires a lower speed, shall be not less than fifty-five miles per hour and the speed limits specified in subsection (b) of this section do not apply.
(2) The minimum speed for driving in the left hand, or passing lane, on an interstate highway is fifty-five miles per hour, where no special hazard exists that requires a lower speed. Any person who violates this minimum speed limit is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined fifty dollars and court costs.
(e) Unless otherwise provided in this section, any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars; upon a second conviction within one year thereafter after the first conviction, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars; and, upon a third or subsequent conviction within two years thereafter after the second or subsequent conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars: Provided, That if such the third or subsequent conviction is based upon a violation of the provisions of this section where the offender exceeded the speed limit by fifteen miles per hour or more, then upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or confined in the county or regional jail for not more than six months, or both.
(f) Any person who violates the provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars: Provided, That if such the conviction is based upon a violation of the provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (b) of this section where the offender exceeded the speed limit by fifteen miles per hour or more in the presence of one or more children, then upon conviction, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or confined in the regional or county jail for not more than six months, or both.
(g) If an owner or driver is arrested under the provisions of this section for the offense of driving above the posted speed limit on a controlled-access highway or interstate highway, and if the evidence shall show shows that the motor vehicle was being operated at ten miles per hour or less above said the speed limit, then, upon conviction thereof, such the person shall be fined not more than five dollars, plus court costs.
If an owner or driver is convicted under the provisions of this section for the offense of driving above the speed limit on a controlled-access highway or interstate highway of this state, and if the evidence shall show shows that the motor vehicle was being operated at ten miles per hour or less above said speed limit, then notwithstanding the provisions of section four, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code, a certified abstract of the judgment on such the conviction shall may not be transmitted to the division of motor vehicles: Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to conviction of owners or drivers who have been issued a commercial driver's license as defined in chapter seventeen-e of this code, if the offense was committed while operating a commercial vehicle.
(h) If an owner or driver is convicted in another state for the offense of driving above the maximum speed limit on a controlled-access highway or interstate highway, and if the maximum speed limit in such the other state is less than the maximum speed limit for a comparable controlled-access highway or interstate highway in this state, and if the evidence shall show shows that the motor vehicle was being operated at ten miles per hour or less above what would be the maximum speed limit for a comparable controlled-access highway or interstate highway in this state, then notwithstanding the provisions of section four, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code, a certified abstract of the judgment on such the conviction shall may not be transmitted to the division of motor vehicles, or, if transmitted, shall not be recorded by the division, unless within a reasonable time after conviction, the person convicted has failed to pay all fines and costs imposed by the other state: Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to conviction of owners or drivers who have been issued a commercial driver's license as defined in chapter seventeen-e of this code, if the offense was committed while operating a commercial vehicle.




NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish a minimum speed limit of 55 miles per hour for driving in the left hand or passing lane on interstate highways. It provides a fine of $50 plus court costs for violations.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.