A quirk of Montana traffic l has led city officials to change school zone signs and speed limits across Billings.  The law, passed in the 1990s, limits officials to setting speeds in school zones at 80 percent of the regular traffic speed, rounded down to the nearest number ending in five with a minimum of 15 mph.

 

But Billings never adjusted to the law, or a later provision requiring signs to note that fines double in school zones.  Many of the zones are posted at 15 miles per hour — too slow, according to Montana law.  One driver who was ticketed in a school zone challenged the local statute with existing state law– skirting a ticket and causing an uproar in the process.
22 public schools and a handful of private schools have school zone speed limits that aren’t in compliance with the formula mandated by Montana state law.

More From KBUL NEWS TALK 970 AM & 103.3 FM