Fox/Leland Bill

HR: 3,024
A BILL TO MODERNIZE INTERSTATE SPEED LIMIT REGULATIONS

Table of Contents
Section 1: General Overview 1A: Introduction of Interstate Modernization Act 1B: Interstate Commerce Clause Justification 1C:Safety as Secondary Priority Justification 1D:General Outline of Changes to Current Interstate System Section 2: Enforcement Guidelines 2A: State Enforcement Validation 2B: State Benefits Package 2C: Outline of Derestriction Zone requirements 2D: Enforcement Guidelines of Persons in Vehicle requirements 2E: Enforcement Guidelines of Current Traffic Laws 2F: Enforcement Guidelines of Reckless Endangerment Offenders 2G: Enforcement Guidelines of DUI Offenders 2H: Enforcement Guidelines of Recent Accident Offenders 2I: Enforcement Guidelines of Learning Permit Offenders 2J: Enforcement Guidelines of Newly-Licensed Offenders 2K: Enforcement Guidelines of Under Qualified Offenders 2L: Enforcement Guidelines of Large Vehicle Offenders 2M: Enforcement Guidelines of Motorcycle Offenders 2N: Enforcement Guidelines of Foreign Offenders Section 3: Federal Spending 3A: Appropriations Committee Outline 3B: Designation of Department of Transportation as Chief Agency 3C: Outline of Federal Money Needed for Change of Signs 3D: Outline of Federal Money Needed for Transition Supplements 3E: Outline of Federal Money Needed for Commission of Pursuit Vehicles 3F: Outline of Federal Money Needed for Commission of Commercial Vehicles Section 4: Date of Implementation 1A: Outline of Date of Implementation with Stated Reasons

A BILL TO MODERNIZE INTERSTATE SPEED LIMIT REGULATIONS Be it enacted by this Student Congress that this Bill seeks to benefit the American Economy by improving the efficiency of Federal Interstate Freeways.

Section 1: General Overview

1A: The Interstate Modernization Act will serve to update current federal speed limit regulations to parallel the modernization of motor vehicles. Therefore, current speed limits will change to model after the Autobahn rules of Germany. According to the Transportation Research Record, in general, there is no speed limit on the autobahn, except for designated stretches of roadway The German government recommends a speed limit of 130 km per hour, or 81 miles per hour. 1B: By means of the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution, The Interstate Modernization Act will serve to increase the efficiency of Federal Interstates. In essence, motor vehicles will be provided more freedom in terms of speed due to significant improvements in safety and efficiency. Furthermore, private and commercial motor vehicles will together benefit due to reduced commute travel times as well as reduced cross-country travel times on Interstate Highways. 1C: In the drafting of The Interstate Modernization Act, maintaining adequate safety has been a secondary priority to improved Interstate efficiency. Safety has been held as a secondary priority due to research suggesting that increased speed limits within Germanys Autobahn has not affected fatality rates. German studies, as reported by the Transportation Research Record, have shown the rate of fatal accidents is no higher in stretches without speed limits than in speed-restricted areas. 1D: Under The Interstate Modernization Act, there will be no general speed limit in federally determined derestriction zones. Rather, there will only be a recommended speed of 80 mph. However, speed limits will remain in effect in heavy traffic areas, metropolitan areas, and high hazard areas (IE: Mountain Pass Zones, Steep Incline Zones, Construction Zones)

Section 2: Enforcement Guidelines

2A: The States will be in charge of enforcement of federal derestriction zones by means of State Patrol agencies already in place. Also the States will be responsible for providing the

adequate training to officers that will patrol derestriction zones. Furthermore, States will be responsible to provide officers with vehicles capable of speeds over 150 mph. They can do this by purchasing federally commissioned pursuit vehicles from American automakers defined in section 3D. 2B: The states will be the sole benefiters of revenue gained from fines and licensing fees in order to integrate into their budgets or to further increase enforcement of federal derestriction zones (recommended). If need be, States can apply for more monetary support through the Department of Transportation which will be the chief agency providing oversight of derestriction zones. 2C: In derestriction zones the law would be that any amount of people can be in the motor vehicle under the recommended 80 mph, 2 people under 100 mph, and only 1 person in 100 mph plus. Enforcement of these laws is designated in the next section. 2D: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate person amount in derestriction zones. In violation of the of the sub-100 mph 2 person rule, the fine shall be 500$. In violation of the 100 mph plus 1 person rule, the fine shall be 1000$. 2E: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate traffic laws in derestriction zones. All current Interstate traffic rules still apply, and fines in place already will remain the same dollar amount if offense occurs under the recommended 80 mph. However, upon exceeding the recommended speed, the fine amount for traffic violations triples. 2F: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate reckless endangerment offenses in derestriction zones. Any reckless endangerment offenses (IE: Racing, Aggressive Driving, Road Rage) that occur under the recommended 80 mph, shall be subject to the consequences already in place. However, upon exceeding the recommended speed, the effect of the consequences shall triple. (IE: tripled dollar amounts in fines, tripled lengths of license revocation periods, tripled jail times for the most severe of offenses) 2G: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate persons with a DUI in derestriction zones. Any person with a DUI cannot exceed the recommended 80 mph within 3 years of receiving their license back. In violation of this rule, the offender shall be subject to a 3000$ fine and revocation of their license for 1 month. 2H: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate persons with a recent accident on record in derestriction zones. Any persons who were the sole cause of a recent accident on record cannot exceed the recommended 80 mph within 6 months of the accident on record. In violation of this rule, the offender shall be subject to a 500$ fine as well as restart on the initial 6 month probation period. 2I: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate drivers with a learning permit in derestriction zones. Any persons with only a learning permit are not allowed to exceed the

recommended 80 mph. In violation of this rule, the offender shall have their learning permit revoked for 2 years or till the age of 18 (whichever is longer), and they must redo all the requirements upon the end of their revocation period to attain a license. 2J: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate newly-licensed drivers in derestriction zones. Any newly-licensed drivers are not allowed to exceed the recommended 80 mph within 6 months of receiving their license. In violation of this rule, the offender shall be subject to a 500$ fine as well as restart on the initial 6 month probation period.

2K: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate under-qualified drivers (no learning permit, no license) in derestriction zones. Any under-qualified drivers caught shall be subject to same consequences already in place if not exceeding the recommended 80 mph. However, if the under-qualified driver is caught exceeding the recommended speed, then the offender will have their vehicle impounded for a minimum 90 days and must pay a fee of 1000$ to attain their vehicle along with the storing and towing expenses. 2L: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate large/oversized vehicles in derestriction zones. Any vehicles over 7,000 pounds are not allowed to exceed the recommended 80 mph. Only federally approved vehicles defined in section 3E exceeding the 7,000 pounds are allowed to exceed the recommended speed. In violation of this rule, the offender driving the vehicle shall be subject to a 500$ fine. 2M: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate motorcyclists in derestriction zones. Any motorcyclists are subject to the same fines stated above and must adhere to the traffic rules already in place that are specific to motorcyclists. Therefore, motorcyclists are allowed to exceed the recommended 80 mph. 2N: The following enforcements will be implemented to regulate foreign motorists and vehicles in derestriction zones. Foreign Motorists are expected to adhere to same laws and fines as American Citizens. Therefore, Foreign Motorists have the obligation reading appropriate material defining the new Interstate regulations that shall be provided to them upon entering the country.

Section 3: Federal Spending

3A: Projected Federal spending in terms of a dollar amount shall be handled by the Appropriations Committee. Therefore, the necessary Federal money designated in the sections below will be determined by the committee. Upon passing, the portion of the Federal Budget used in the implementation of the Interstate Modernization Act shall be funneled through The

Department of Transportation.

3B: All Federal money involved in the implementation of the measures stated above shall be funneled through the Department of Transportation. Thus, the Department of Transportation shall be the chief agency providing oversight to the transition and operation of the new Interstate system. Federal money will be provided to install a permanent division within the Department of Transportation specific to the new Interstate system. The division will manage the money affiliated with this new Interstate system as defined in the next sections below. 3C: Necessary Federal money will be needed in order to change the signs already present on Interstates to the appropriate signs necessary for the new Interstate system. Costs will include the production of new signs, the recycling/disposal of the old signs, and all the affiliated labor and shipping fees. 3D: Necessary Federal money will be needed in order to change Interstate laws formally, and to produce new material outlining the new Interstate system to inform drivers and law enforcement agencies. Costs will include undergoing legal procedures to change laws, providing materials to states about the new laws, and providing material to drivers and law enforcement agencies about the new laws. 3E: Necessary Federal money will be needed in order to commission the production of necessary pursuit vehicles from American Auto Manufactures (IE: Ford, GM, Dodge). American Auto Manufactures, under these commissions, must build pursuit models of sport vehicles that are capable of safe speeds over 150 mph. Sport Models permitted for modification (Ford Mustang Roush, Chevy Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper) 3F: Necessary Federal money will be needed in order to commission the production of more federally approved efficient commercial vehicles capable of exceeding the recommended 80 mph in derestriction zones. The Department of Transportation will be in charge of setting guidelines to federal standards, and they will be in charge of confirming or denying modified commercial vehicles.

Section 4: Date of Implementation

4A: The Date of Implementation of The Interstate Modernization Act will be set for June 1, 2015. This date will allow preemptive measures to be taken in order to have a smooth transition. Also this date will allow for extended improvements in car safety and efficiency. Furthermore, the date allows non-commercial and commercial auto companies to design and build the commissioned cars defined in the sections above.