40-6-9
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40-6-9.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term 'speed limits' shall be construed to
refer to and include stop lights, stop signs, slow signs, yield signs, and any
and every other light, device, or sign which may be used to impede, slow, stop,
or regulate the speed of motor vehicles on the public highways.
(b)
Any provisions of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, whenever any
complaint is made to the Governor that any speed limit established by any county
or municipal authority is arbitrary or unreasonable, or upon any complaint being
made to the Governor that any speed limit established by the state or by any
county or municipal governing authority is being enforced primarily for the
collection of revenue rather than for purposes of public safety, the Governor
may, in his discretion, direct that an investigation and any necessary studies
be commenced by the commissioner of public safety or his delegate who shall make
a report thereon together with his recommendations as to whether the state
should suspend the authority of the applicable local county or municipal
governing authorities to enforce speed limits upon any state and federal
highways lying within the jurisdiction of such authorities. Upon receipt of a
report accompanied by recommendations that the power to enforce speed limits be
restricted, the Governor shall furnish a copy of such report to the local
authorities affected thereby, together with notice of hearing on the allegations
of the report made by the commissioner of public safety or his delegate. Such
hearing may be held at such time and such place as may be determined by the
Governor but shall not be held less than ten days after notice to the local
governing authorities. Such hearing shall be conducted before a board to be
composed of the Governor, the Secretary of State, and an appointee of the
Governor who is not the Attorney General who shall be reimbursed for the actual
and necessary expenses pertaining to their services on the board but who shall
receive no other additional compensation for their services thereon. Upon
determination by the board that the speed limits established by the county or
municipal governing authorities against whom complaint has been brought are
either unreasonable or that speed limits are being primarily enforced for the
collection of revenue rather than for purposes of public safety, the Governor
shall issue his executive order suspending the power of such local governing
authority to enforce speed limits on state or federal highways lying within its
jurisdiction or on any particular such highway. In the event that this power is
suspended, the Governor shall direct the commissioner of public safety to
enforce the speed limits on such highways.
(c)
At intervals of not less than six months, any governing authority affected by
subsection (b) of this Code section and by an executive order issued in
accordance with subsection (b) of this Code section may, upon a change of
circumstances being shown to the Governor, petition the Governor for
reconsideration, whereupon the Governor, in his discretion, may direct the
commissioner of public safety or his delegate to inquire into such change of
circumstances and report the same to him together with any recommendations for
modification of the Governor´s previous order; and the Governor, in his
discretion, may order a new hearing on the matter before the board or may,
without hearing, modify or revoke his previous executive order.
(d)
Any provisions of this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, when any
complaint is made to the Governor that any traffic law, ordinance, or
regulation, other than speed regulations for which provision has been made in
subsection (b) of this Code section, established by any county or municipal
authority is arbitrary or unreasonable, or upon any complaint being made to the
Governor that any traffic law, ordinance, or regulation established by the state
or by any county or municipal governing authority, other than speed regulations
for which provision has been made in subsection (b) of this Code section, is
being enforced primarily for the collection of revenue rather than for purposes
of public safety, the Governor may, in his discretion, direct that an
investigation and any necessary studies be commenced by the commissioner of
public safety or his delegate who shall make a report thereon together with his
recommendations as to whether the state should suspend the authority of the
applicable local county or municipal governing authorities to enforce traffic
laws, ordinances, or regulations upon any state and federal highways lying
within the jurisdiction of such authorities. Upon receipt of a report
accompanied by recommendations that the power to enforce traffic laws,
ordinances, and regulations be restricted, the Governor shall furnish a copy of
such report to the local authorities affected thereby, together with notice of a
hearing on the allegations of the report made by the commissioner of public
safety or his delegate. Such hearing may be held at such time and at such place
as may be determined by the Governor but shall not be less than ten days after
notice to the local governing authorities. This hearing shall be conducted
before a board to be composed of the Governor, the Secretary of State, and an
appointee of the Governor who is not the Attorney General who shall be
reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses pertaining to their services on
the board but who shall receive no other additional compensation for their
services thereon. Upon the determination by the board either that traffic laws,
ordinances, or regulations, other than speed regulations for which provision has
been made in subsection (b) of this Code section, established by the county or
municipal governing authority against whom complaint has been brought are
unreasonable or that traffic laws, ordinances, or regulations established by the
state or by any county or municipal governing authority are being primarily
enforced for the collection of revenue rather than for purposes of public
safety, the Governor shall issue his executive order suspending the power of
such local governing authority to enforce traffic laws, ordinances, and
regulations on state or federal highways lying within its jurisdiction or on any
particular such highway. In the event that this power is suspended, the Governor
shall direct the commissioner of public safety to enforce the traffic laws and
regulations on such highways.
(e)
At intervals of not less than six months, any governing authority affected by
subsection (d) of this Code section and by an executive order issued in
accordance with subsection (d) of this Code section may, upon a change of
circumstances being shown to the Governor, petition the Governor for
reconsideration, whereupon the Governor, in his discretion, may direct the
commissioner of public safety or his delegate to inquire into such change of
circumstances and report the same to him together with any recommendations for
modification of the Governor´s previous executive order; and the Governor,
in his discretion, may order a new hearing on the matter before the board or
may, without hearing, modify or revoke his previous executive order.