I was interested in the "Basic Rule" infraction in Montana, so
I searched and found this article from 6/1/96.
Ken "The Basic Rule in TX is to go as fast as you want but
don't get caught" Mansfield
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High-speed image worries Montana
Associated Press
HELENA, Mont. (AP) - In the first summer tourist season
since Montana took down the national
speed limit signs, state officials are worried about a new
breed of visitor with a need to speed.
"The image ... is that it's the autobahn, the Montanabahn,"
said Matthew Cohn, director of the state
tourism office. "The reality is, there's a lot of misinformation
out there."
After Congress repealed the national speed limit of 65 mph
on interstates and 55 mph on other
highways last December, Montana automatically reverted to
its former law, with no set speed limit
during daylight hours.
Instead, Montana has the "basic rule" - a driver may not
exceed speeds that are "reasonable and
prudent" for conditions. But the lack of specific numbers has
been widely misinterpreted as no speed
limit at all.
"It's interpretive. It's discretionary. It's difficult to explain and
understand," acknowledged Maj. Steve
Barry of the Highway Patrol. "There's a lot of variables
involved."
In contrast, Colorado's new speed limit that goes into effect
today is a clear 75 mph.
While there is no fixed rule of thumb in Montana, drivers
moving with the pack - even if the pack is
really moving - should escape the long arm of the law.
"People who are passing everything - that's the
type of person we're going to be focusing on," Barry said.
Violators face stiffer penalties under the new law. Instead of
the $5 nuisance charge under the old
posted limits, fines now run from $70 to more than $500,
depending on the degree of driver
"imprudence."
Sgt. Craig Palmer said the Highway Patrol issued 530 basic
rule tickets in April, about 200 more than
in the same month last year.
Al Goke, chief of the Montana Traffic Safety Bureau, said he
would be concerned "if some clubs or
motoring groups come to Montana with the intent to really
drive faster."
The state has put together a campaign to alert visitors from
out of state to the new law, and will
distribute fliers at highway rest areas, car rental agencies
and visitor's centers.
Fatalities compared to the same period last year are down -
56 as of May 19 compared to 60 in 1995
- though the number of accidents has run about 15 percent
higher, according to the head of the
Highway Patrol, Craig Reap.
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