State Assembly passes speed limit increase bill

The bill would let the state Department of Transportation raise speed limits up to 70 miles-per-hour, right now they can only set them as high as 65.

The Assembly passed the bill 76-22 and now it moves on to the State Senate.

Two representatives stood and spoke against the bill, a Democrat and a Republican.

One argued semi-trucks should not be allowed to go any faster than 65 miles-per-hour, another representative said allowing anybody to drive faster than 65 mph would make the roads more dangerous. The bill's author says allowing DOT to raise the speed limit makes the highways safer.

\"You take and you cross out 65 and you put the word seventy and we're going to let the DOT safety engineers, not a bunch of politicians, make that decision on who should go what speed.\" said Rep. Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc)

A similar but lengthier version of this bill passed the Assembly last session, it was held up by the Senate.

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