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For statutory provisions establishing speed restrictions, see RCW 46.61.400 – 46.61.475.
The state traffic laws regulating the speed of vehicles shall be applicable upon all streets within the city, except as this title, as authorized by state law, declares and determines upon the basis of engineering and traffic investigation that certain speed regulations shall be applicable upon specified streets or in certain areas, in which event it is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of any speed so declared in this title when signs are in place giving notice thereof.
(Ord. 373 § 22, 1964)
The city engineer, under the direction and control of the city council, and where authorized by state statute, shall regulate the timing of traffic signals so as to permit the movement of traffic in an orderly and safe manner.
(Ord. 373 § 24, 1964)
It is determined upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that the speed limits permitted by state law upon the streets designated in this section are less than is necessary for safe operation of vehicles thereon by reason of the designation and signposting of the streets as arterial highways and/or by reason of widely spaced intersections. Unless the speed limit on a particular street is otherwise specifically designated elsewhere within this chapter or by appropriate signage upon the streets themselves, it is declared that the speed limit shall be as set forth in this section on those streets or parts of streets designated in this section at the times specified when signs are erected giving notice thereof.
Name of Street
Speed Limit
1. West Valley Highway
35 MPH at all times
2. All other streets
25 MPH
(Ord. 373 § 23, 1964; Ord. 1056 § 2, 1988; Ord. 1924 § 1, 2016; Ord. 2008 § 3 (Exh. B), 2019)
Maximum traffic speed for all motor vehicles including motorcycles and bicycles is as prescribed on the following streets:
A. 
Maximum speed on Third Avenue, 25 miles per hour subject to a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour on that portion of Third Avenue Southeast from Pacific Avenue South to Skinner Road;
B. 
There is established an advisory speed warning of 10 miles per hour at the corner of Third Avenue Southeast and Skinner Road, extending 200 feet in a westerly direction from said corner on Third Avenue Southeast and 200 feet in a northerly direction on Skinner.
(Ord. 514 § 3, 1972; Ord. 766 § 2, 1980; Ord. 771 § 1, 1980; Ord. 1725 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2008 § 3 (Exh. B), 2019)
The speed limit for vehicular traffic on Valentine Road from County Line Road north to Fifth Avenue and on Pacific Avenue from First Avenue to Third Avenue located within the city limits shall be reduced from 35 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour.
(Ord. 387 §§ 1, 2, 1965; Ord. 439 § 2, 1969; Ord. 1701 § 1, 2008)
There is established a maximum speed limit of 79 miles per hour for railroad tracks passing through the city on the Burlington-Northern tracks.
(Ord. 636 § 1, 1977)
The speed limit in school zones, as established by the erection of signs under the authority of and at the direction of the chief of police, shall be 20 miles per hour.
A. 
Said signs shall read as follows: "School Zone – 20 miles per hour when children are present."
B. 
For the purpose of this section, "when children are present" shall be in force under any of the following conditions:
1. 
School children are occupying or walking within the marked crosswalk.
2. 
School children are waiting at the curb or on the shoulder of the roadway and are about to cross the roadway by way of the marked crosswalk.
3. 
School children are present or walking along the roadway, either on the adjacent sidewalk or, in the absence of sidewalks, on the shoulder within the posted school speed limit zone extending 300 feet, or other distance established by regulation, in either direction from the marked crosswalk.
(Ord. 705 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1701 § 4, 2008)
The speed limit on Tacoma Boulevard between Ellingson Road and Second Avenue S.W. shall be 20 miles per hour.
(Ord. 1147 § 1, 1991)
The maximum speed limit on Frontage Road between Ellingson Road and Third Avenue Southeast is set at 30 miles per hour.
(Ord. 1900 § 1, 2015)
A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine as set forth in the monetary penalty schedule in IRLJ 6.2 for speeding violations.
(Ord. 2008 § 5, 2019)