Assembly Bill No. 645–Committee on Transportation

 

March 26, 2001

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Referred to Committee on Transportation

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions regarding signs posted in school zones. (BDR 43‑1297)

 

FISCAL NOTE:    Effect on Local Government: No.

                                 Effect on the State: Yes.

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

AN ACT relating to traffic laws; revising the provisions regarding signs posted in school zones; requiring the department of transportation to establish standards for the use of signs in school zones; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1    Section 1. NRS 484.3665 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2    484.3665  1.  Each permanent sign which designates a school zone

1-3  and the speed limit in that zone must [be] :

1-4    (a) Be uniform in size and color [and must clearly] ;

1-5    (b) Clearly designate the hours during which the speed limit applies[.] ;

1-6  and

1-7    (c) To the extent practicable, conform with any applicable standards

1-8  adopted by the department of transportation pursuant to subsection 3.

1-9    2.  Each portable sign designating a school zone and the speed limit in

1-10  the zone must [be] :

1-11    (a) Be uniform in size and color[.] ; and

1-12    (b) To the extent practicable, conform with any applicable
standards adopted by the department of transportation pursuant to

1-13  subsection 3.

1-14  A portable sign may be placed beside a roadway only during those hours

1-15  when pupils are arriving at and leaving regularly scheduled school

1-16  sessions.

1-17    3.  The department of transportation shall establish standards with

1-18  respect to the use of signs in school zones. To maximize safety and

1-19  awareness in a school zone during the time when the speed limit is in

1-20  effect, while facilitating the flow of traffic during the time when the

1-21  speed limit is not in effect, the standards adopted by the department of

1-22  transportation must, to the extent practicable:

2-1    (a) Encourage the use of signs that:

2-2       (1) Display variable messages;

2-3       (2) Are fluorescent yellow-green in color, with wide-angle

2-4  retroreflectivity;

2-5       (3) Are electronically changeable, with an emphasis on the use of

2-6  features such as remote changeability and automatic scheduling; and

2-7       (4) Use radar feedback to allow a driver to view his speed; and

2-8    (b) Discourage the use of signs that use lights that flash alternately or

2-9  a source-emitting light.

2-10    4.  This section does not prohibit the use of automatic traffic-control

2-11  devices in school zones in lieu of permanent or portable signs.

2-12    Sec. 2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of NRS 484.3665, as amended

2-13  by this act, a sign that is in existence on July 1, 2001, need not be replaced

2-14  to comply with the provisions of NRS 484.3665, as amended by this act,

2-15  until the sign would have otherwise been replaced in the normal course of

2-16  maintaining the sign.

2-17    Sec. 3.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2001.

 

2-18  H