Establishes steep downhill grade zones within the public highways where downhill grade is 5% or greater and where there are safety concerns of commercial motor vehicle drivers exceeding posted speed limits.

Allows the DoT to establish steep downhill grade zones within the public highways of the state where the downhill grade is 5% or greater and where there are safety concerns related to commercial motor vehicle drivers exceeding the posted speed limits.

Subjects a commercial motor vehicle driver who commits a speeding violation in a steep downhill grade zone to doubled fines and surcharges. If the department establishes a steep downhill grade zone, the department must erect signs identifying the zone and notifying commercial motor vehicle drivers that increased fines are assessed for speeding in the zone.

Creates the mountain highways commercial motor vehicle safety account (account) within the highway users tax fund and requires the state treasurer to credit one-half of the amount of each doubled fine and surcharge to the account for the department to pay costs associated with the provision of educational outreach and public information about runaway truck events, the purchase and implementation of equipment for the purpose of reducing the frequency of runaway truck events, and the completion of studies of means by which the state may reduce the frequency of runaway truck events and improve overall commercial motor vehicle safety on state highways that pass through the state's mountains.

Effective 1/1/24.

03/27/2023 Introduced in House. Referred to House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government.
04/11/2023 Amended in House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government. Referred to House Committee on Appropriations.
04/18/2023 House Committee on Appropriations referred as amended to House Committee of the Whole.
04/18/2023 Passed House second reading with amendments.
04/19/2023 Third reading laid over.
04/21/2023 Third reading. Passed House.
04/24/2023 Introduced in Senate. Assigned to Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy.
05/01/2023 Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy referred to Senate Committee on Appropriations.
05/02/2023 Senate Committee on Appropriations referred to Senate Committee of the Whole.
05/02/2023 Passed second reading in Senate.
05/03/2023 Third reading. Passed Senate.
05/22/2023 Signed by President of the Senate and Speaker of the House. Sent to the Governor.
06/05/2023 Signed by Governor.