[MT Governor] Bullock signs higher 80-mph interstate speed limit into law

Starting Oct. 1, Montana drivers will have an 80 mph speed limit on interstate highways in the state, as Gov. Steve Bullock has signed into a law a bill increasing the limit from 75 mph.

Drives also will be subject to higher fines if they violate the highway speed limit, on both the Interstate and other highways in the state.

I grew up in Montana. the state has always been a state you could travel the highway system at high speed during the 70s and 80 there was no day time speed limit in the state of Montana while the rest of the country had a 55 mph speed limit. Montana had none instead it had a wasting gas conservation ticket. the ticket was only 5 dollars and you could pay it directly to the sheriff or highway patrol. the ticket did not give you a point on your drivers license. the only reason that the ticket existed is that congress passed a bill stating that if a state wanted to get highway funds they had to have a fine for going over 55 mph. the Montana law makers passed the conservation of energy ticket just so they could still get highway funds from the government gas tax.. When I was 18 I got one of those conservation of energy tickets I was speeding at 110 mph in an old ford truck when the sheriff pulled me over. he gave me the ticket I paid the fine and he told me if I continued to drive as fast as I was that I might kill my self if I lost control of the truck. this was pre airbags being standard features in vehicles

I remember it being referred to as the “double nickel” speed limit in Stephen King novels. Was that a common nickname (curious as I am in Canuckistan)? I’ve always thought it though another silly, naive idea from Nanny Government.

Not that it’s relevant to this conversation but my nephew drives a truck with a governor on it, max speed 63 mph.

He’ll get blown off the road in Montana.

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