Speed limits greater or lesser than reasonable; alteration by local authority; engineering and traffic investigations; validity of speed limits; conditions; violation
Ind. Code § 9-21-5-6
in effectSec. 6. (a) Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f), whenever a local authority in the authority's jurisdiction determines that the maximum speed permitted under this chapter is greater or less than reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist on a highway or part of a highway, the local authority may determine and declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit on the highway. The maximum limit declared under this section may do any of the following:
(1) Decrease the limit within urban districts, but not to less than twenty (20) miles per hour.
(2) Increase the limit within an urban district, but not to more than fifty-five (55) miles per hour during daytime and fifty (50) miles per hour during nighttime.
(3) Decrease the limit outside an urban district, but not to less than thirty (30) miles per hour.
(4) Decrease the limit in an alley, but to not less than five (5) miles per hour.
(5) Increase the limit in an alley, but to not more than twenty (20) miles per hour.
The local authority must perform an engineering and traffic investigation before a determination may be made to change a speed limit under subdivision (2), (3), (4), or (5) or before the speed limit on a highway with a functional classification of arterial or major collector within an urban district may be decreased to less than twenty-five (25) miles per hour under subdivision (1). An engineering and traffic investigation is not required to decrease the speed limit to twenty (20) miles per hour on a highway with a functional classification of minor collector or local road in an urban district.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (f), a local authority in the authority's jurisdiction shall determine by an engineering and traffic investigation the proper maximum speed for all local streets and shall declare a reasonable and safe maximum speed permitted under this chapter for an urban district. However, an engineering and traffic study is not required to be performed for the local streets in an urban district under this subsection if the local authority determines that the proper maximum speed in the urban district is not less than twenty-five (25) miles per hour.
(c) An altered limit established under this section is effective at all times or during hours of darkness or at other times as may be determined when appropriate signs giving notice of the altered limit are erected on the street or highway.
(d) Except as provided in this subsection, a local authority may not alter a speed limit on a highway or extension of a highway in the state highway system. A city or town may establish speed limits on state highways upon which a school is located. However, a speed limit established under this subsection is valid only if the following conditions exist:
(1) The limit is not less than twenty (20) miles per hour.
(2) The limit is imposed only in the immediate vicinity of the school.
(3) Children are present.
(4) The speed zone is properly signed. There must be:
(A) a sign located:
(i) where the reduced speed zone begins; or
(ii) as near as practical to the point where the reduced speed zone begins;
indicating the reduced speed limit; and
(B) a sign located at the end of the reduced speed zone indicating:
(i) the speed limit for the section of highway that follows; or
(ii) the end of the reduced speed zone.
(5) The Indiana department of transportation has been notified of the limit imposed by certified mail.
(e) A local authority may decrease a limit on a street to not less than fifteen (15) miles per hour if the following conditions exist:
(1) The street is located within a park or playground established under IC 36-10.
(2) The:
(A) board established under IC 36-10-3;
(B) board established under IC 36-10-4; or
(C) park authority established under IC 36-10-5;
requests the local authority to decrease the limit.
(3) The speed zone is properly signed.
(f) A city, town, or county may establish speed limits on a street or highway upon which a school is located if the street or highway is under the jurisdiction of the city, town, or county, respectively. However, a speed limit established under this subsection is valid only if the following conditions exist:
(1) The limit is not less than twenty (20) miles per hour.
(2) The limit is imposed only in the immediate vicinity of the school.
(3) Children are present.
(4) The speed zone is properly signed. There must be:
(A) a sign located where the reduced speed zone begins or as near as practical to the point where the reduced speed zone begins indicating the reduced speed limit and a sign located at the end of the reduced speed zone indicating the end of the reduced speed zone; and
(B) if the school operates on a twelve (12) month schedule, a sign indicating that the school is an all year school.
(g) Except as provided in subsection (h), a person who exceeds a speed limit established by a local authority under this section commits a Class C infraction.
(h) A person who exceeds a speed limit that is established under subsection (d) or (f) commits a Class B infraction.
[Pre-1991 Recodification Citation: 9-4-1-58.]
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.92-1991, SEC.3; P.L.1-1992, SEC.50; P.L.126-1993, SEC.1; P.L.169-2006, SEC.32; P.L.138-2009, SEC.2; P.L.52-2011, SEC.1; P.L.29-2015, SEC.1; P.L.188-2015, SEC.66; P.L.164-2018, SEC.12; P.L.49-2024, SEC.11.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/9Fetched: 10/17/2026