OFF THE WIRE
NEVADA:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/mar/27/bill-raising-speed-limit-85-mph-passes-senate-comm/
Bill raising speed limit to 85 mph passes Senate committee
By Cy Ryan (contact)
Senator Donald (Don) G. Gustavson of the 77th (2013) Nevada
Senatorial District. CARSON CITY — A bill to raise the maximum speed limit from
75 mph to 85 mph on some stretches of freeways in Nevada was approved today by
the Senate Transportation Committee on a 4-1 vote.
Sen. Patricia Spearman, D-North Las Vegas, cast the lone
dissenting vote. She said her research shows the fatality rate has increased in
states that have raised their speed limits. “I have reservations about safety,”
she said.
Sen. Don Gustavson, R-Sparks, who offered the bill, countered
that accidents have actually decreased where the speed limit has been raised.
Gustavson said the higher speed limit might be allowed on
stretches of highways such as Interstate 15 from north of Las Vegas to Mesquite,
U.S. 95 north of Las Vegas and Interstate 80 east of Reno.
It will be up to the Transportation Department to decide where
to raise the speed limit.
The bill is expected to go before the full Senate for a vote
later this week or early next week. It would still need to pass the Assembly and
be signed by Gov. Brian Sandoval.
The committee also approved a bill requiring the state
Department of Motor Vehicles to include a question on its driver’s license
examination about the law prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones and
texting while driving.
