Chapter 10.15
SPEED LIMITS

Sections:

10.15.010    State speed laws applicable – Exceptions.

10.15.020    Increasing State speed limit.

10.15.030    Decreasing State speed limit.

10.15.040    Former speed limits retained.

10.15.010 State speed laws applicable – Exceptions.

The State traffic laws regulating the speed of vehicles at 25 miles per hour shall be applicable upon all streets within the City, except that the legislative authority of the City, as authorized by State law, may declare and determine by order, rule or regulation, properly adopted, that certain increased or decreased speed regulations shall be applicable upon specified streets or in certain areas, in which event it is unlawful for any person to operate a vehicle at a speed in excess of the speed so established when proper signs are in place giving notice thereof. [Ord. 98-0033 § 1.]

10.15.020 Increasing State speed limit.

Whenever conditions are found to exist upon an arterial street or highway which warrant an increase in the speed permitted by State law, the legislative authority of this City, subject to the approval of the State Highway Commission in cases involving State highways, shall determine and declare a reasonable and safe maximum speed limit for such arterial street or highway, or portion thereof, not to exceed 55 miles per hour. [Ord. 98-0033 § 2.]

10.15.030 Decreasing State speed limit.

Whenever it is deemed inadvisable for vehicles to operate at the maximum speed allowed by State law at 25 miles per hour on any portion of a street or public highway on account of a sharp curvation, highway construction or repairs, excessive traffic, any dangerous condition, or other temporary or permanent cause, the legislative authority of the City, subject to the approval of the State Highway Commission in cases involving State highways, shall determine and fix a lower maximum speed or otherwise regulate a lesser speed; provided, that in no case shall the maximum speed be reduced to less than 20 miles per hour. [Ord. 98-0033 § 3.]

10.15.040 Former speed limits retained.

A.  The maximum speed limits for certain streets established by King County pursuant to KCC 46.04.040 and 46.04.050* and as otherwise established by King County ordinance and for which speed limit signs have been duly posted by King County are hereby adopted as the speed limits on those said streets in the City of Kenmore, unless the city council shall establish otherwise pursuant to this chapter or other law. Any such revised speed limits will not take effect until appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected.

B. Violators of speed restrictions shall be subject to the fines, penalties and forfeitures as established by the City’s model traffic ordinance (see Chapter 10.05 KMC) and the Uniform Bail Schedule adopted by the state of Washington and in effect as of the date of the violation. [Ord. 22-0550 § 1; Ord. 15-0405 § 1; Ord. 13-0364 § 1; Ord. 98-0033 § 4.]

*Code reviser’s note: These King County Code sections are on file in the office of the city clerk.