(Spirit Lake)– A number of new laws go into effect today (Wed.) in Iowa. Among them is a change to a 60 mph speed limit. Kevin Krull of the Iowa State Patrol says it pertains to ALL paved two lane roads, not just state highways…
“It doesn’t apply to the gravel roads or the dirt roads, but any improved hard surfaced road out in the open, the default speed is now 60 mph. So if it was a 55 zone, chances are it’s going to be 60 unless there’s some other factors that come into place.”
Krull adds it’s going to take awhile to get the speed limit signs changed. He says the new limit will also require some other changes…
“No passing zones need to be increased because of the distance and speed that we’re going now, and maybe the guard rails. By the sounds of it we’re going to be putting longer guard rails in. Or the warning chevrons for, hey, in the warnings, hey you need to slow down for this curve coming up. Those will be the more difficult signage to correct because of the fact of we can put a 60 over the 55 pretty easy but when you have to move the post and all that stuff and put extra posts up, that’s going to take a little bit more time. We just ask people to use caution when they’re driving out there and enjoy the countrysides.”
Another new law motorists need to be aware of affects window tint…
“They did make the agreeance to change to what Minnesota’s standard is which is 50 percent on the front two doors, so you have to let 50 percent of the light come through that. The unfortunate part is that we were at 70 percent had to get through, and most of the vehicles we’ve been checking have only been letting 30’s and 20’s, so they’re still in violation of even the new law. It really didn’t make most of the vehicles I’m seeing on the road, legal. So the window tint that’s probably on your vehicle is probably still too dark.”
Krull says the best advice if you’re unsure as to the percentage of your window tint is to have it tested.
