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Myhr and Lichter want to
slow county down ... to 35 mph
posted 03/14/2007
With a petition signed by 40 people expressing a desire to drive low-speed electric vehicles on all county road and his belief that there is "No place to go to get to in a hurry", Councilmember Bob Myhr is pushing the county council to adopt a policy allowing the vehicles on all county roads. In order to do so, the speed limits would have to be lowered to 35 mph.
Councilmember Alan Lichter said, "This would be a good time for the council to take a leadership role in slowing things down in San Juan County." It would be a good lesson for people driving fast in large SUVs, he said.
Councilmember Kevin Ranker reminded everyone the council discussed the topic last year. At that time the county engineer explained that speed limits are partially based on the speed that drivers are already traveling on the road, Ranker said. The council also had asked about having split speed limits on the county roads. One speed limit for one type of vehicle and another speed limit for another type of vehicle, similar to speed limits on freeways.
Prosecutor Randy Gaylord said state law preempts local laws. "Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) are prohibited on roads faster than 35 mph because of the differential in speed." The NEVs go 25 mph.
Sheriff Bill Cumming said a 35 mph limit would require increased and regular enforcement.
Councilmember Rich Peterson, Gene Knapp and Howie Rosenfeld stressed the need for public input from all citizens. Rosenfeld said he was surprised that many people at the Chamber of Commerce meeting had been supportive of lower speed limits.
At the end of the discussion, they decided to have county Administrator Pete Rose come back to them with a report on what it would take to have a policy which would allow the low-speed electric vehicles on all county roads.
Myhr said, "I am probably stubborn enough not to allow this to die,"
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