Montana speed limits freeways catch up to Idaho, Utah

HELENA — Montana’s maximum speed limits will be going up on some, but not all, freeways this fall. However, the fines drivers pay for violating the top speeds will also be doubling.

Governor Steve Bullock signed Senate Bill 375 into law yesterday, one of several proposals that cropped up in the Legislature this year for raising the speed limits.

Lawmakers had looked at the increases in keeping with similar speed limit changes in adjacent states, like Idaho and Utah.

However, more aggressive proposals that would have led to a broad increase in speed limits, especially without a corresponding increase in fines, failed to gain traction.

Under the bill signed by Bullock, speed limits will climb to 80 mph on stretches of the interstate where the Montana Department of Transportation decides it’s safe enough for the increase.

However, drivers who top the higher speed could pay more. The bill also doubled the maximum fines from $100 to $200.