Signed by Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to repass a bill, after having concurred with Senate amendments thereto, that authorizes the establishment of wildlife crossing zones on public and federal highways.

Highlights:

-Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to establish areas within the public highways of the state as wildlife crossing zones (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the Department of Transportation to put up signs identifying the zone and to establish a lower speed limit but not for more than 100 miles of the public highways of the state (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the Department of Transportation to establish an area within the federal highways of the state as a wildlife crossing zone if the department receives authorization from the federal government (Sec. 1). -Requires the Department of Transportation, when establishing a lower speed limit within a wildlife crossing zone, to consider factors such as the percentage of traffic accidents that occur involving wildlife and the relative levels of traffic congestion and mobility in the area (Sec. 1). -Requires the Department of Transportation to prepare and submit to the Transportation and Energy Committee of the House of Representatives and the Transportation Committee of the Senate a report including (Sec. 1):

-The location and length of each wildlife crossing zone that has been established; -The total number of miles within the public highways that the Department of Transportation has established as wildlife crossing zones; -The total number of wildlife crossing zones for which there has been established a lower speed limit, -The effect, if any, that the establishment of each wildlife crossing zone has had in reducing the frequency of traffic accidents; and -A recommendation as to if the general assembly should continue, discontinue, or expand the establishment of wildlife crossing zones.

-Prohibits the Department of Transportation from establishing wildlife crossing zones on any interstate highways (Sec. 1). -Requires the Department of Transportation to indicate the times of day and the periods of the calendar year during which the area will be deemed a wildlife crossing zone (Sec. 2). -Specifies that the penalty and surcharge imposed for any moving traffic violation within a wildlife crossing zone are doubled, one-half of which will be deposited into the newly established Wildlife Crossing Zones Safety Account to be used for wildlife crossing zones signs and law enforcement (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the establishment of wildlife crossing zones on public and federal highways.

Highlights:

-Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to establish areas within the public highways of the state as wildlife crossing zones (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the Department of Transportation to put up signs identifying the zone and to establish a lower speed limit but not for more than 100 miles of the public highways of the state (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the Department of Transportation to establish an area within the federal highways of the state as a wildlife crossing zone if the department receives authorization from the federal government (Sec. 1). -Requires the Department of Transportation, when establishing a lower speed limit within a wildlife crossing zone, to consider factors such as the percentage of traffic accidents that occur involving wildlife and the relative levels of traffic congestion and mobility in the area (Sec. 1). -Requires the Department of Transportation to prepare and submit to the Transportation and Energy Committee of the House of Representatives and the Transportation Committee of the Senate a report including (Sec. 1):

-The location and length of each wildlife crossing zone that has been established; -The total number of miles within the public highways that the Department of Transportation has established as wildlife crossing zones; -The total number of wildlife crossing zones for which there has been established a lower speed limit, -The effect, if any, that the establishment of each wildlife crossing zone has had in reducing the frequency of traffic accidents; and -A recommendation as to if the general assembly should continue, discontinue, or expand the establishment of wildlife crossing zones.

-Prohibits the Department of Transportation from establishing wildlife crossing zones on any interstate highways (Sec. 1). -Requires the Department of Transportation to indicate the times of day and the periods of the calendar year during which the area will be deemed a wildlife crossing zone (Sec. 2). -Specifies that the penalty and surcharge imposed for any moving traffic violation within a wildlife crossing zone are doubled, one-half of which will be deposited into the newly established Wildlife Crossing Zones Safety Account to be used for wildlife crossing zones signs and law enforcement (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text