Raising Wisconsin Interstate Speed Limit to 70-mph: Is It a Good Idea?

Should the speed limit on Wisconsin’s four interstate highways and Highway 41 to the Fox Valley be raised from 65 to 70-mph? That’s a question for the governor and our state lawmakers to sort out but there are valid points on both sides of the argument.

Personally, as someone who drives on the interstate every day, raising the speed limit to 70-mph sounds like a good idea because as you drive around the country, that’s the norm in other states.  However, having listened to some conferences with state patrol officers, their position is that boosting the limit would be an unwise choice due to safety concerns. There are those who are legitimately concerned because so many drivers are already going 70 or 75 on the interstates. If you raise the limit to 70, those drivers will simply start going 80, 85 or even 90.

Raising the limit may also change the dynamics in how law enforcement deals with issuing citations.  Perhaps state troopers become a little more proactive and start strictly pulling people over at 75 and over and more strongly enforce citations.  What’s more, local municipalities or the district attorney’s office where a person gets pulled over may be more proactive in not amending tickets as easily as they might have in the past.

Raising the speed limit may also add to the problem of high-powered motor cycles – “crotch rockets” - zipping in, out and between automobiles at dangerous speeds. I’ve both prosecuted and judged in these types of cases and I can tell you that in my court, when I’ve seen cases of very excessive speeding, the high percentage of these cases do tend to be high-powered motorcycles. They tend to be violators traveling easily 25 mph and more over the limit. Would raising the limit increase these kinds of cases?  Obviously, there’s cause for concern.

Still, I don’t have an overall objection to raising the limit to 70 on the interstates. As far as I know, Wisconsin wouldn’t be in any danger of losing any federal funding for its highways.  While drivers may notice tighter law enforcement starting at 75-mph, having speed limits consistent with our neighboring states makes good sense to me.

About Attorney Mark Powers
Attorney Mark Powers is a partner at the criminal defense law firm of Huppertz & Powers, S.C. in Waukesha. Previously, Powers served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Waukesha County District Attorney's office and is currently serving as a municipal judge in North Prairie. He focuses in the area of criminal defense, and has handled many cases involving operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, domestic disputes, and drug offenses.

Powers attended Valparaiso University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate. Prior to law school, Mark attended the University of Wisconsin, Lacrosse where he received his bachelor of science in Political Science.

For more information, please call 262.549.5979 or visit www.waukeshacriminalattorneys.com.