Governor signs 'dirt road bill' into law

If you’re accustomed to driving 75 mph on county roads, you’d better start slowing down to 55 mph after Jan. 1, 2016.

Gov. Susana Martinez signed SB 125, also known as the “Dirt Road Bill,” into law on Monday, according to a press release from the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Pat Woods.

“I’ve had as many friends mad at me on this bill as happy,” Woods said. “Some of them say, ‘You’re gonna cause me to get tickets out in the country,’ and others say, ‘It’s a no-brainer.’ None of these roads are maintained to be 75 mph.”

Woods said he’s hoping the new law will reduce the number of wrecks and fatalities on county roads throughout the state.

“We’ve had some wrecks and fatalities in Curry County,” Woods said. “I think there’s 13,000 miles of dirt roads in Curry County alone. I hope we can make the deal worthwhile, make it where it’s a safer place to live out in the country.”

“In my mind I think it’ll probably save lives, but that’s something we’ll never know,” Curry County Commissioner Wendell Bostwick said. “I also think it’ll save lots of torn up vehicles.”

Woods doesn’t expect anyone to try and reverse the bill, although he’s heard concerns from constituents about “overzealous policemen.”

“Mostly people that have talked to me are worried about some overzealous policemen causing trouble,” Woods said. “If you’re driving faster than conditions allow, you’ll get a ticket. A brand new person with a license will see the speed limit at 75 mph and probably try it (despite road conditions). This law will take care of that I hope.”

According to the press release, county roads “tend to be narrow,” and are not built or maintained to host drivers going 75 mph.

“The purpose is to make our roads more safe for people unfamiliar with county roads and the conditions that exist there,” Bostwick said. “There’s always two different sides to every issue but, in my mind, the most responses in agreement is that 75 mph is too fast. There’s arguments that we might move it to 60 mph or 45 mph, so we tried to pick a happy medium that people can live with and get their jobs done but still be safe.”

Bostwick said he is pleased that the bill was signed, and said that’s how government is supposed to work.

“I think it’s good legislation. I think it’s excellent when you can bring a recommendation from the county and it passes the House and Senate and the governor concurs. That’s the way things are supposed to happen.”