Committee hears bill to clarify application of Public Act 33 of 2024 for local speed limits

Representative Brad Slaw testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in favor of House Bill 4137, saying the bill would clarify how Public Act 33 of 2024 is applied when local road authorities set speed limits.

Slaw said the law enacted last session "gave the road agencies more leeway in setting speed limits by reducing the need to conduct engineering and safety studies" but that Michigan State Police have interpreted PA 33 to still require those studies. "This bill clarifies the intent of PA 33 and makes it crystal clear that a speed limit can be set under the 80 fifth percentile without the need to conduct the additional speeds or engineering study," Slaw said, adding the change would apply "so long as that speed is within 5 miles per hour of the 80 fifth percentile speed limit."

The bill would, in the sponsor's view, restore the range of local discretion that lawmakers intended when the governor signed PA 33.…