Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 784 of the Regular Session
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S3/20/19 S3/28/19
2 92nd General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2019 HOUSE BILL 1631
4
5 By: Representative Vaught
6 By: Senators B. Davis, Flippo, T. Garner
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MAXIMUM SPEED
10 LIMITS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
11
12
13 Subtitle
14 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING MAXIMUM SPEED
15 LIMITS.
16
17
18 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
19
20 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code 27-51-201(b) and (c), concerning speed
21 limits, are amended to read as follows:
22 (b)(1)(A) Upon an engineering and traffic investigation, the State
23 Highway Commission may increase the speed limit of a controlled-access
24 highway to The maximum speed limit for a motor vehicle operated on a
25 controlled-access highway is seventy-five miles per hour (75 m.p.h.) if the
26 controlled-access highway:
27 (i) Is located outside an urban area; and
28 (ii) Has at least four (4) lanes that are divided by a
29 median strip.
30 (B) The maximum speed limit for a commercial motor vehicle
31 operated on a controlled-access highway described in subdivision (b)(1) of
32 this section is seventy miles per hour (70 m.p.h.).
33 (2) The Arkansas Department of Transportation shall erect the
34 appropriate signs giving notice of the maximum speed limit provided in
35 subdivision (b)(1) of this section along the controlled-access highway
36 maximum permissible speeds on controlled-access highways shall be effective
*DTP071* 03-28-2019 14:14:41 DTP071
As Engrossed: S3/20/19 S3/28/19 HB1631
1 when appropriate signs giving notice are erected along the highway by the
2 Arkansas Department of Transportation.
3 (3) Upon an engineering and traffic investigation, the State
4 Highway Commission may decrease the maximum speed limit on a controlled-
5 access highway from the speed limit provided by subdivision (b)(1) of this
6 section.
7 (c) On all facilities other than controlled-access highways under
8 subdivision (b)(1) of this section, except when a special hazard exists that
9 requires lower speed for compliance with subsection (a) of this section, the
10 limits specified in this section or established as authorized shall be
11 maximum lawful speeds, and a person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at
12 a speed in excess of:
13 (1) Thirty miles per hour (30 m.p.h.) in any urban district;
14 (2) Fifty miles per hour (50 m.p.h.) for trucks of one-and-one-
15 half-ton capacity or more in other locations;
16 (3) Sixty-five miles per hour (65 m.p.h.) on a controlled-access
17 highway in an urban area for other motor vehicles in other locations; and
18 (4) A motor vehicle which is over width, over length, or over
19 height or the gross load of which is in excess of sixty-four thousand pounds
20 (64,000 lbs), excluding the front axle, even if operated under a special
21 permit, shall not be operated in excess of thirty miles per hour (30 m.p.h.).
22
23 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code 27-51-201, concerning speed limits, is
24 amended to add an additional subdivision to read as follows:
25 (h) As used in this section, "commercial motor vehicle" means any
26 motor vehicle used in commerce to transport passengers or property when the
27 vehicle or vehicle combination has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross
28 combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination
29 weight of twenty-six thousand one pounds (26,001 lbs.) or more.
30
31 SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This act shall be effective on and after
32 July 1, 2020.
33
34 /s/Vaught
35
36 APPROVED: 4/8/19
2 03-28-2019 14:14:41 DTP071
Statutes affected: Old version of HB 1631 - 02-28-19: 27-51-201(b)
Old version of HB 1631 - 03-20-19: 27-51-201(b)
Old version of HB 1631 - 03-28-19: 27-51-201(b)
HB 1631: 27-51-201(b)
Act 784: 27-51-201(b)