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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
ADOT dynamic message signs
Purpose
Restricts the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) dynamic message signs (DMSs) to display only messages that are directly related to transportation or highway public safety and outlines exceptions.
Background
Directional or other official signs or notices that are required or authorized by law may be placed or maintained along an interstate, secondary or primary system within 660 feet of the edge of the right-of-way. These signs or notices must conform with the standards contained in rules adopted by the Director of ADOT and national standards promulgated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (A.R.S. § 28-7902; A.A.C. R17-3-701).
A changeable message sign (CMS) is a traffic control device that is capable of displaying one or more alternative messages. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), a CMS must display only traffic operational, regulatory, warning and guidance information, except state and local highway agencies may display safety, transportation-related, emergency homeland security and amber alert messages. A CMS must comply with MUTCD requirements, including: 1) the display format may not be similar to an advertising display or include animation, rapid flashing, dissolving, exploding, scrolling or other dynamic elements; 2) a message must be centered within each line of the legend and may consist of up to two phases; 3) each phase may consist of up to three lines of text and must be understood by itself regardless of the sequence in which it is read; and 4) if more than one CMS is visible to road users, then only one CMS may display a sequential message at any given time, except as outlined (MUTCD).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires ADOT to display only messages on a DMS that are directly related to transportation or highway public safety.
2. Excludes, from the message requirement, reminders to vote and amber, silver and blue alerts.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
TI 2/17/23 DP 7-4-0-1
3rd Read 3/1/23 31-28-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 9, 2023
KJA/CB/sr