Speed limits greater or lesser than reasonable; alteration by local
authority; engineering and traffic investigations; validity of speed
limits; conditions
Sec. 6. (a) Except as provided in subsection (e), whenever a local
authority in the authority's jurisdiction determines on the basis of an
engineering and traffic investigation that the maximum speed
permitted under this chapter is greater or less than reasonable and
safe under the conditions found to exist on a highway or part of a
highway, the local authority may determine and declare a reasonable
and safe maximum limit on the highway. The maximum limit
declared under this section may do any of the following:
(1) Decrease the limit within urban districts, but not to less than
twenty (20) miles per hour.
(2) Increase the limit within an urban district, but not to more
than fifty-five (55) miles per hour during daytime and fifty (50)
miles per hour during nighttime.
(3) Decrease the limit outside an urban district, but not to less
than thirty (30) miles per hour.
(4) Decrease the limit in an alley, but to not less than five (5)
miles per hour.
(5) Increase the limit in an alley, but to not more than thirty (30)
miles per hour.
(b) A local authority in the authority's jurisdiction shall determine
by an engineering and traffic investigation the proper maximum
speed for all local streets and shall declare a reasonable and safe
maximum speed permitted under this chapter for an urban district.
(c) An altered limit established under this section is effective at
all times or during hours of darkness or at other times as may be
determined when appropriate signs giving notice of the altered limit
are erected on the street or highway.
(d) Except as provided in this subsection, a local authority may
not alter a speed limit on a highway or extension of a highway in the
state highway system. A city or town may establish speed limits on
state highways upon which a school is located. However, a speed
limit established under this subsection is valid only if the following
conditions exist:
(1) The limit is not less than twenty (20) miles per hour.
(2) The limit is imposed only in the immediate vicinity of the
school.
(3) Children are present.
(4) The speed zone is properly signed.
(5) The Indiana department of transportation has been notified
of the limit imposed by certified mail.
(e) A local authority may decrease a limit on a street to not less
than fifteen (15) miles per hour if the following conditions exist:
(1) The street is located within a park or playground established
under IC 36-10.
(2) The:
(A) board established under IC 36-10-3;
(B) board established under IC 36-10-4; or
(C) park authority established under IC 36-10-5;
requests the local authority to decrease the limit.
(3) The speed zone is properly signed.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.92-1991, SEC.3;
P.L.1-1992, SEC.50; P.L.126-1993, SEC.1.
Last modified: May 27, 2006