Bill to Up Highway Speeds Proposed in Legislature

Another proposal to increase Montana's highway speed limits has come before the Legislature.

Republican Rep. Art Wittich proposed a ballot referendum Friday for voters to decide whether to raise highway speed limits by 5 mph.

No one spoke in favor of House Bill 603 in the House Transportation Committee.

Opponents say people's desire to get places faster doesn't outweigh safety precautions.

Representatives of the Montana Highway Patrol and the trucking industry spoke against the proposal, along with three individuals.

Wittich says he is open to excluding curved or otherwise unsafe portions of highway.

The highway patrol has opposed two other bills to increase highway speeds this session. Both died.