Anaheim : Some Speed Limits Will Be Bumped Up

Speed limits on scores of roadways will be raised to avoid having them declared speed traps.

In the wake of a citywide traffic survey, speed limits on 73 of the city’s 744 roadways will go up by 5 m.p.h. and will increase by 10 m.p.h. on five others.

The City Council approved allocating about $12,000 Tuesday to post new signs over the next two or three months.

The changes were necessary to make sure speed limits are legally enforceable. The state Vehicle Code requires that speed limits be set in a fair manner. That means that speed limits under 55 m.p.h. must be based on a survey of how fast motorists actually drive on that road when there is free-flowing traffic.

State law also requires that speed limits be based on traffic surveys, which must be updated every five years. According to recent court rulings, speed limits must fall within 5 m.p.h. of the speed driven by 85% of drivers as determined by a traffic survey.

Exceptions such as a high accident rate or nearby school can justify a 5-m.p.h. reduction in the posted speed limit, according to state law.

If it can be shown that a speeding ticket was issued in a zone that has an artificially low speed limit or has an outdated traffic survey, the citation can be dismissed.

The new traffic survey also led to the lowering of the speed limits on five streets by 5 m.p.h., according to city staff.