Bill Proposed by Senator Larkin to Allow Towns to Set Speed Limits Passes Senate

Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) announced that the New York State Senate has unanimously passed legislation (S3992) which would allow towns with a population of more than 25,000 to set speed limits on their own roads and highways.

“Municipalities know their roads best and are in the best position to determine if speed limits need to be lowered,” said Larkin. “If there is a section of road or highway – near a school for example – that warrants a lower, safer speed limit, the town should have the ability to make that call and lower the limit. This is a safety issue for all of our constituents, and I urge the Assembly to consider this bill immediately.”

Under current law, towns with a population exceeding 50,000 are allowed to adjust speed limits on town roads and highways while towns with lower populations must submit a request to the New York State Department of Transportation. This legislation will allow smaller towns the same flexibility as their larger counterparts when it comes to local speed limits.

In Rockland the bill would impact the Town of Haverstraw, which has a population of 36,634 according to the 2010 census, and the Town of Orangetown, which has a population just shy of 50,000 at 49,212. The Town of Stony Point, which Larkin represents along with Haverstraw, has a population of only 15,059 and Ramapo and Clarkstown are well over 50,000. The bill has been sent to the Assembly.