House Bill 975 amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-153, regarding the authority of county legislative bodies to set speed limits on roads maintained by the county. The bill deletes the previous subsection (d) and replaces it with new provisions that grant counties the power to prescribe lower speed limits as deemed appropriate, along with the requirement to erect appropriate signage. Additionally, it allows county legislative bodies to delegate this authority to the chief administrative officer of the county highway department, provided that the department employs a qualified engineer to conduct necessary engineering and traffic investigations.

The bill also stipulates that any engineering and traffic investigations conducted to establish speed limits must adhere to established traffic engineering practices and comply with the guidelines set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and state supplemental guidelines. Furthermore, it mandates that documentation of these investigations be maintained by the jurisdiction responsible for conducting or sponsoring them. The bill retains the authority of the board of commissioners in counties with a commission form of government to set speed limits as prescribed. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55-8-153