State Watch – February 2022

State legislatures around the country have gone to work in the new year. Here, Land Line rounds up some recent actions at statehouses.

For a complete rundown of state legislation, visit LandLine.Media.

Florida

Florida law prohibits travelers from driving too slowly in the left lane if they “reasonably should know” they are being overtaken by another vehicle. Drivers traveling the speed limit also are required to yield to vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit.

Two bills at the statehouse, HB647 and SB960, would revise the left lane rule.

Specifically, left lane use would be prohibited unless overtaking and passing another vehicle or preparing to turn left on roadways with two or more lanes in the same direction with a speed limit of at least 65 mph.

Most notably, the specification about driving speed would be eliminated.

Maryland

In an effort to ease congestion issues, one House bill would authorize certain shoulder areas on state highways to be used by Maryland Transit buses when the speed of traffic is 35 mph or less. HB64 specifies that buses accessing shoulders must travel within 10 mph of the speed of traffic.

Michigan

A Michigan bill would allow speed cameras to enforce vehicle speeds in highway or street work zones. Devices would be used when construction workers are present.

Permission would be given to the Michigan State Police, Michigan DOT, county commissioners, or other local authority having jurisdiction over a highway or street to utilize automated enforcement.

Pennsylvania

One bill nearing passage in Pennsylvania addresses what has been described as an “aggressive overreach” on tolling bridges.

In November 2020, PennDOT launched the Major Bridge P3 Initiative, which allows the state to install tolls on major bridges that are in need of repairs.

SB382 would halt the current bridge toll plans. The legislature and the governor also would be required to endorse any toll plan.

A House bill calls for bringing back in-person toll collection on the turnpike during peak periods. In spring 2020, the turnpike switched from using fare collectors to cashless toll collection. HB2080 would establish a hybrid system that would bring back tollbooth workers during the road’s busiest hours.

Utah

A Utah Senate bill targets the worst-of-the-worst speeders in the state.

SB53 would classify driving at least 100 mph to be reckless driving. Violators would face fines up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.

Driving at least 25 mph in excess of the posted speed would also be classified as reckless driving.

Virginia

Two bills in Virginia are intended to reduce toll costs on the Dulles Greenway and create distance-based pricing. Additionally, owners of the 14-mile roadway would be prohibited from going before the State Corporation Commission to request future increases.

Washington

A legislative pursuit at the Washington statehouse would remove tolls from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge about 10 years before planned.

SB5488 and HB1602 would transfer $772 million from the state’s general fund to pay remaining debts on the bridge. Once paid in full, the tolls must be removed.

Wisconsin

Legislation in Wisconsin would allow the city of Milwaukee to use red-light and speed cameras to ticket drivers.

State law now prohibits the use of automated enforcement tools.

The bill specifies that tickets could only be issued for speeding by at least 20 mph over the posted limit. The program would have a five-year sunset date.

Wyoming

One method being pursued in Wyoming to help address funding concerns is the state’s 6% severance tax. The tax is imposed on the extraction of nonrenewable natural resources that include crude oil and natural gas.

Severance tax revenue is deposited into the state’s Permanent Mineral Trust Fund.

One bill would route a portion of the tax revenue to roads. The legislation calls for diverting 1%, or about $87 million annually, of the state’s severance taxes from the trust fund to roads and schools.

The Wyoming DOT would receive 70% of the funds, or about $61 million yearly. The remaining 30%, or about $26 million per year, would be routed to community colleges.

Transportation dollars would be used for projects included among WYDOT’s spending priorities. LL