61-8-309. Establishment of special speed zones. (1) (a) If the department of transportation determines upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that a speed limit set by 61-8-303 is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist at an intersection, curve, dangerous location, or any other part of a highway under its jurisdiction, the commission may set a reasonable and safe special speed limit at that location.
     (b) If a local authority requests the department of transportation to conduct an engineering and traffic investigation based on the belief that a speed limit on a highway under the department's jurisdiction is greater than is reasonable or safe, the commission may not increase the speed limit under consideration as a result of the investigation.
     (2) The department of transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs giving notice of these special limits. When they are erected, the limits are effective at that part at all times or at other times that the commission sets.
     (3) The authority of the commission under this section includes the authority to set reduced nighttime speed limits on curves and other dangerous locations.
     (4) This section does not authorize the commission to set a statewide speed limit.

     History: En. Sec. 42, Ch. 263, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 204, L. 1959; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 178, L. 1961; amd. Sec. 56, Ch. 316, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 32-2145; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 512, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 73, L. 1995.