MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Transportation

By: Representative Currie

House Bill 446

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-3-501, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO SET THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND CERTAIN CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAYS TO SEVENTY MILES PER HOUR; TO PROHIBIT THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND ANY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY FROM REDUCING SUCH SPEED LIMITS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 63-3-501, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     63-3-501.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall operate a vehicle on the highways of the state at a speed greater than sixty-five (65) miles per hour.

     The Mississippi Transportation Commission * * *may, in its discretion, by order duly entered on its minutes, shall increase the speed restrictions on any portion of the Interstate Highway System * * *provided such speed restrictions are not increased to * * *more than seventy (70) miles per hour.  The commission * * *may shall likewise increase the speed limit to seventy (70) miles per hour on controlled access highways with four (4) or more lanes.  The speed limit on the Interstate Highway System and controlled access highways with four (4) or more lanes may not be reduced to less than seventy (70) miles per hour by the commission or any governmental entity.

     A governmental entity that operates and maintains a toll road as authorized under Section 65-43-1, or that contracts with some person or business to operate and maintain a toll road as authorized under Section 65-43-3, may establish the maximum speed for motor vehicles operated on any such toll road; however, the maximum speed so established may not exceed eighty (80) miles per hour.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.

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