OFFICE OF THE AlTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS
AUSTIN
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Mr. Julian 150ntgolmary
mate Hi wpy Bngineer
Alumxt, PePse
Dear sir:
MI-. Julian Xont@mery - II'%%@2
mVlll you please give us the benerit
OP your opinion as to uhether we dun le al-
ly poet'6afe speed* signs as poposea 1&;
The mrreot answer of yeur inqu3.q is contdmed
in Article 827a, Sections 8 smi Pl of the Rmsl Cede,
tfhlch pmYld.%r
l8eo.%. It ShSll be anlevfnl for
any person to oprate or drive szq motor
or other vehicrle upon the p&lie M.ghx%qs
of Tesas at a rate of speed ia excess of
fortg-five (46) piles an hem, or drive
or operate a motor or other vehiole uith-
In the corporato limits of an incorporate&
city ar tom, or within or t&rough any
town or rillafge not incorporated, at 0
greater rate of *peed than twenty (20)
miles perhour; pra~I.4e4,thutit shall
be unla~l to operato upon satd pblh
highwuys a wmmrdul rotor tehhle as do-
f%n&I in this Aat OF either a reg%steraZ
or wtual gross weight of six tboas.axl
(6,000) pmmae or less IL& a rute ior spee4
3,n exww of forty (40) ndles per bour,or
sWhvshi01eefeither 8I'9&stMWdS
wtual grotJ% weight of OYer i&x thonsan4
(6 ,ooO) 8, at a rut63 ef speed fn ex-
ww or #?-
veney-rire (28) mile8 per hour,
or WI- the corporate 13dts of cozy in-
eorperated dlty or town er rithln er
tJlrou&rrsyteRnortilagenet~~peref-
eaatar8teo%speodin-sotsta;bfeea
(18) dies perhdur. PraYtie mrtber,thut
it aall be unlawful to opemte my m&w
teh%ele engaged in this Stdte in the busi-
new OS truxleportlng prrsewgerfl for WlRpw-
ration or hirs on any hQ&wq, roe4 or
fhareughfkre not *vateIJ ewned between
cities, tmne un4 ~lllagee 8t a c&e Of
npea4 in eweas Of fwty (40) ndl5s pm
hour."
Wear. 11. Th% Osgartwnt fs her&y
authorbed to olasdfy, designate ti
319
maFlr both intrastrte,ad interstate State
&&hmq~~ lying within the botisrles of
this St&c and to prmide a UaFfolcn sys-
tern of z4Brldng ana lidgnhg swh hlghu8ys
uncler the furisdiction of this State, azt6
such systels of sarklng alla laignlng &all
sorrelate dth SIXI se far &s pessib'le con-
Porn to the system sdopt& in other states."
Udter these Sections of the Article se think
the Stats kU&htisy Departmmt aotiU¶ be author&m6 to
post the rsrrkersraferrarl to in pasaga@ *la of your
letter, and as to such markers our answer to you &a
yes.
As to the x6rkers refemwi to In the eeced
paragral;h sf ysur letter, yeu zwe odrisefi that it is
our opinion that the State Rlgbway Dewtmont is wltb-
out wthority to post such 01 The two %+?&1ons oi
Article S27a sust be eon&ma er' te6ether snd hammdse
if poesiale. SW, 8 of thh dct expressly limits the
speed of motor rehioles on the publie hlghrass of this
Stste to (cc srllee per hour, oad other sections ef tbt
let mke all tiolatlons of ehis pmmition a psnsl of-
feltw ana fix a penalt.~far tam rloletica of the usm.
ThesmrksrsW%%P%%%tr~MIL%%BYDdlJamitba
marker~SAPI3SP%Z%M)WL%SBT PXQIW would suvelybe
am open Smritatien to the gen5rfU plbiic oparrt&ng
auvtor re!dcUm on stste highvop?J so masked te tio1ate
the pls%n prorlsions ef 6eutiea 8 of the Act, snii eer-
telrslywas nst oonteqlstod by the Mi#slature when It
enaote4Sw. 11 OS the sansdct. 6egarUless ofwbst
my be thha private ,odt110~1of the varleus off%dals ef
thls state*bth reference to the rate of speed with
which motor cars may be operatal upon the pubrio; hi@-
says of this State, the,powr to ahang such rctteof
spee4 remalns with the La6lslMnr6, smi 8s 10% aer.tbe
statute remZns umMux,gerP the Stat% Bigbwo~ Departmeat
asuld not be ~mtherized, UnUer 6ac. 11 of tie A&, to
post signa for a mafc ape& .%a8xa389 of 48 Edlw par
320
Br. sIllliaR
Lio3ltgoEieq
- Page 4
hour.
0rovsr Sellers
Asulstant
APFr,3':L;MAR
23, 1940
/iiLd4*-
ATTORNEY GE;hERAL
OF TEXAS