INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lawmakers got a look Tuesday at a few bills that deal with driving.
One of those bills could change how fast you get around the state.
House Bill 1308 would change the speed limit from 70 to 75 on rural stretches of highway in Indiana.
The bill’s author, Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-District 52, said he wanted to just start the conversation about a possible change. That conversation came before lawmakers on the House’s Roads and Transportation Committee on Jan. 23.
“I think if we talk about it and ask for opinions, we ask for data and do studies, we’re going to find the right way forward,” Smaltz told the committee.
Some testified that a safe way forward, though, might not include increased speed limits on the state’s highways, pointing to studies showing that increasing speeds can lead to more crashes and more fatalities.
“While the allure of faster travel may be tempting, it’s crucial we base our decision on evidence, prioritizing the safety of Hoosiers,” said Chris Norville, representing the operators of Indiana Toll Roads.
The author of another bill, Senate Bill 240, said he was concerned about safety too because of something called "street takeovers" he said was happening across the state, but more specifically in Marion County.
This past summer, IMPD saw several incidents where dozens of cars converged in one area, driving around in continuous circles, blocking traffic.
“On one occasion, the street takeover was so significant we had a female IMPD officer in the middle of the street takeover virtually cut off from all of her colleagues in a very dangerous situation,” said State Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-District 32, the bill's author.
SB 240 defines spinning as driving around in a continuous rotation and skidding on purpose. It increases penalties for spinning that endangers a person or blocks traffic.
It also allows for police to take the vehicle of someone who is caught spinning and blocking traffic.
Not everyone supported all parts of the bill.
“We’re going to end up with some father letting his 17-, 18-, 19-year-old kid borrow the truck. He’s showing off for his friends and the next day, you know, the truck is gone, and he can’t go to work tomorrow,” said Joel Wieneke, with the Indiana Public Defenders’ Council.
Lawmakers did not act on either bill Tuesday.
Another bill that was also set for a hearing Tuesday morning that didn’t happen was Senate Bill 108. If it becomes law, it will force Indianapolis to take down its new “No Right Turn on Red” signs, which were put up last summer.
Freeman, who also authored this bill, said he decided to make SB 108 part of another bill he authored, Senate Bill 52, which would ban dedicated lanes for the construction of IndyGo’s Blue Line.
According to Freeman, SB 52 is expected to be heard by the Senate on Thursday, Jan. 25.