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Committee introduces RS 32316 to allow limited speed exceedance in passing lanes on rural highways
Summary
RS 32316, introduced by Representative Shepherd and brought before the House Transportation Committee, would allow drivers to exceed posted speed limits by up to 15 mph while passing in designated passing lanes on certain highways outside city limits. The committee voted to introduce the request statute for later hearing.
Representative Sam Shepherd presented RS 32316 to the Idaho House Transportation Committee, describing the measure as an extension and clarification of an existing law governing passing on multi-lane stretches. "What this does is it makes it legal to exceed the posted speed limit by 15 miles an hour in a passing lane," Shepherd said, adding that the sponsor believes it is safer to pass in designated passing lanes on higher-speed highways.
Shepherd and other members said the proposed allowance would not apply inside city limits and would not apply where the posted speed is under 55 miles per hour. Shepherd said the change is intended to let drivers briefly exceed the limit only to complete a safe pass on highways where a passing lane creates a temporary third lane.
Committee members raised enforcement concerns. Representative Harris asked why the measure would cap the exceedance instead of removing a cap; Shepherd replied that stronger enforcement of existing lane-usage laws is also needed and expressed frustration that law enforcement does not always enforce passing-lane rules. "As lawmakers, we can only do so much," Shepherd said, urging enforcement of existing laws by law-enforcement agencies.
A motion to introduce RS 32316 was made and approved by voice vote; the committee will schedule the RS for a bill hearing where legal language and enforcement implications can be examined further.
