The Michigan State Police (MSP) has reached out and request our assistance with gathering information from local municipalities.  PA 31’19 added section (e) to MCL 257.627(2) requires MSP to perform a speed study on a random sample of local streets and subsequently  submit a report to the Governor and certain members of the Legislature by January 1, 2023.  Because of how this statute was drafted, there is no requirement for cities and villages to report their utilization of this section to MSP and this is why they need your help.

The statutory language reads as follows:

(e) Until January 1, 2024, 25 miles per hour on a highway segment that is part of the local street system as designated by a local jurisdiction and approved by the state transportation commission under 1951 PA 51, MCL 247.651 to 247.675, and that is within land that is zoned for residential use by the governing body of an incorporated city or village under the Michigan zoning enabling act, 2006 PA 110, MCL 125.3101 to 125.3702, unless another speed is fixed and posted. The department of state police shall perform a speed study on a random sample of local streets set under this subdivision. No later than January 1, 2023, the department of state police shall submit a report on the speed study required under this subdivision to the senate majority leader, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor.

In conjunction with MSP, we ask that any community that is operating under this statue, please contact Sgt. Travis R. Fletcher at [email protected] for the purpose of helping MSP gather the necessary information for the required report. This information will be critical in making the case to eventually eliminate the sunset in this statute and preserve the ability for locals to set speed limit at 25 miles per hour in areas that are zoned for residential use.

John LaMacchia is the League’s director of state & federal affairs. He can be reached at [email protected] or 517-908-0303.