Metro Detroit motorists who exceed posted speed limits may not be breaking the law, because in many cases the limits themselves are unlawful, according to one of the state’s top traffic cops.
Four years after the passage of Public Act 85, which requires municipalities in Michigan to conduct studies to set proper speed limits, most cities, villages and townships have not complied, according to Lt. Gary Megge, head of the Michigan State Police Traffic Services Section. One likely reason, said Megge, whose section advises communities on how to set proper speed limits, is that communities want speeding ticket revenue, and failing to conduct the required speed studies allows them to keep enforcing their speed limits that Megge calls “artificially low.
Also, the title of this post is completely inaccurate. It implies that the big bad government has come up with a new scheme to make money (by raising speed limits). In actuality the Detroit News article is talking about a 4-year-old Michigan law that requires roads to be re-evaluated for proper speed limits (suggesting the 10 named should be raised — which would actually decrease revenues with fewer speeding tickets).
Municipal revenue from traffic and parking violations is another example of government out of control, and oppressing the people. I try hardest to obey as few laws as possible. I do pretty well at it. Mostly laws that cops can’t see.