Milford man wages court challenge of speed limits

(Speaking of my constant point about the engineering of roads and automobiles allowing "comfortable" speeds that are far beyond that which is safe for pedestrians, bicyclists, and creating community and foot-based retail.)

The New Hampshire Union Leader reports, in "Milford man wages court challenge of speed limits," that:

Larry Lemay likes to drive at a speed he considers "comfortable." Unfortunately for him, comfortable is often well above the posted speed limit. He's gotten four speeding tickets so far this year alone. But rather than slowing down to spare his wallet, Lemay is fighting to allow faster driving.

The Milford man is suing in Strafford County Superior Court to force the state Department of Transportation to conduct traffic studies and reevaluate speed limits across the state, per federal standards, in a move he believes would lead to faster, and safer, driving.

But Assistant Attorney General Dave Hilts, who is handling the case for the state, dismissed Lemay's argument, saying he's been indoctrinated by speed limit abolitionists who claim higher limits are better. They spread their gospel over the web, Hilts said.

"Common sense will tell you that going too slow is only a hazard when other people are going much faster," he said. "It's kind of a weird case." Hilts said Lemay has used legal language and cited cases from internet speed limit abolitionists in past and present cases. Lemay himself admits to using the internet to build his case and readily cites similar legal challenges in other states.