Arizona State Route 82 between Patagonia and Sonoita. A new proposed measure, SB 1127 says that anyone driving up to 75 mph in a 65 mph zone can be cited not for speeding but the offense of β€œwaste of a finite resource.”

 Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

PHOENIX β€” If you see those posted speeds on highways as more of a suggestion than a limit, a Southern Arizona lawmaker has some legislation for you.

SB 1127 says that anyone driving up to 75 mph in a 65 mph zone can be cited not for speeding but the offense of β€œwaste of a finite resource.”

That means doing so would be a maximum fine of $15.

And the state Department of Transportation cannot use the offense to add points to a person’s driving record.

The United States and Iran signed an accord paving the way for the release of 52 Americans held hostage for more than 14 months, and more events that happened on this day in history.

But perhaps the most significant factor β€” and the reason most motorists would not bother to fight the fine β€” is that ADOT can’t report the citation to someone’s insurance company, which often can result in higher premiums.

The legislation contains a similar provision for roads posted at 75: Real fines and insurance reporting would not kick in unless the driver is clocked at more than 85 mph.

To be fair, it’s not like Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, is creating an entirely new buffer for motorists.

During the oil embargo in the 1970s, the federal government told states they had to cap speed limits at 55 mph. States that failed to put such laws on the books faced loss of federal aid.

In 1980, however, Jim Hartdegen, then a Republican representative from Casa Grande, discovered a loophole.

The state would keep those 55 speed limit signs. But anyone going up to 10 miles over could be cited only under the β€œfinite resource” section.

That effectively restored 65 mph as the maximum speed limit on state highways without endangering federal funding.

The federal law is now gone and Arizona now has roads posted up to 75 mph.

Gowan said his legislation simply reflects the current reality.

β€œWe did not bring that β€˜waste of finite resource’ up to date when we moved our speed limits,” he said.

Anyway, Gowan said he sees the bill as providing an additional option for law enforcement.

β€œPolice officers aren’t out there trying to just tag you for everything,” he said. β€œThey want to keep things safe and rolling.”

So if they’re not going to cite someone, that leaves them only with the option of a warning. β€œSo they’d like an extra tool to utilize in between those,” Gowan said.

SB 1127 also does something else.

Under current law, it is a criminal offense to exceed a posted speed limit in a business or residential district by more than 20 miles an hour. That can land someone in jail for up to 30 days.

Anywhere else, that same law also makes it a crime to drive at more than 85 mph.

Gowan wants to update that last part to make the criminal penalty effective only if someone is doing at least 20 miles over the limit.

He acknowledged that on a road posted at 75 β€” the current maximum in Arizona β€” those criminal penalties would not kick in unless and until someone was clocked driving at least 96 mph.

But Gowan said it’s always been the understanding of the driving public that anything less than 20 miles over is a civil violation. His bill, he said, just brings the law into conformity with public perception.

The measure is scheduled for a hearing Thursday morning before the Senate Committee on Transportation and Technology.

Gowan managed to get a virtually identical measure out of the Senate last year on a 17-13 vote. But it never got a hearing in the House.

Photo gallery: A look back at Tucson-area streets

Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.