A study of speeding vehicle “hot spots” in Salisbury Township is in the offing.

“I had discussions with my constituents,” Commissioner Heather Lipkin, who represents Ward 1 on the township’s east side said.

Lipkin spoke at the Oct. 8 commissioner’s meeting workshop when a discussion regarding maximum speed limits in the township was on the agenda.

“People speed on Weil Avenue,” Lipkin claimed. “We have a lot of kids. We have no sidewalks.”

Lipkin wondered if a township ordinance could be passed whereby the maximum speed limit would be 25 mph on township streets and roads.

Salisbury Township Chief of Police Kevin Soberick said he would provide a sample ordinance for changing the speed limit.

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea because there are some roads that need to be 25 miles per hour,” Soberick said.

“Some continuity would be good,” Soberick said.

“This is going to take some undertaking. Making it 25 is one thing. Posting it is another,” Soberick said.

A sign or signs must be placed, stating the maximum speed limit, for it to be enforced by police.

Salisbury Township Director of Public Works John Andreas said placing signs for a township-wide speed limit would be expensive.

“You’re talking about hundreds and hundreds of signs,” Andreas said.

“We have 80 miles of roads. In any case, it’s expensive,” Andreas said.

“If you’re concerned about Weil Street, then you could post it. We just went through this with Lehigh Avenue, where we placed eight signs,” Andreas said. “It was affordable to get that done.

“We have reduced speed limits in the past,” Andreas said.

“Probably our No. 1 complaint is traffic,” Soberick said.

“It would be a good plan to see what now can be targeted,” Soberick said.

“Officer Bryan Losagio did a pretty good study. I’d like to start with that,” Soberick said.

“Maybe we can look at hot spots,” township board of commissioners President Deb Brinton said. “I like the idea of looking at it.

“We could look at streets where there are concerns. And we could work off of Bryan’s study,” Brinton said.

“If we knew how much the signs cost, we could put that in the budget each year,” Commissioner Rodney Conn said.

“We have flexibility in the budget. We can do that in any given year,” said Andreas.

“I think we should make as many 25 miles per hour as we can,” Conn said.

“It’s a project we can start working on. It’s a good winter project,” Soberick said.

Approximately, one year ago, township commissioners voted to approve an ordinance Oct. 10, 2019, to set a maximum speed limit of 25 mph on Lehigh Avenue, between Tweed and Park Avenue.

After a study, commissioners approved an ordinance, Dec. 18, 2014, to set a maximum speed limit of 25 mph on 33rd Street, between West Emmaus Avenue and Lehigh Street.

An ordinance was also approved Dec. 18, 2014, to set a maximum speed limit of 25 mph on Lindberg Avenue, between South Cedar Crest Boulevard and South 24th Street.

Those are three of many streets where a maximum speed limit of 25 mph hour was set after ordinances were approved in several years, including 1988, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2011.

The streets where portions have a maximum speed limit of 25 mph include Briarwood Road, Chestnut Hill Road, Devonshire Road, East Rock Road, Fish Hatchery Road, Flexer Avenue, Keystone Road, Laible Street, Lehigh Parkway, Lincoln Avenue, Montgomery Street and Public Road.

The list can be found at https://ecode360.com/31685160.

The maximum speed limit on residential roads in Pennsylvania is 35 mph.

The speed limit for school zones is 15 mph when students are coming to or from school, or whenever the speed limit beacon is flashing.

Information about speed limits is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website www.penndot.gov/RegionalOffices/district-5/Pages/FAQS.aspx.

According to the PennDOT website, local municipalities and PennDOT are responsible for setting speed limits.

If a resident wants a speed limit changed, the person is to contact the local municipality officials. The local officials would request an engineering and traffic study to be done by PennDOT.

The website explains the reason for a maximum speed limit of 35 mph in a residential area.

According to the PennDOT website, “Pennsylvania Law requires a speed limit of 35 mph when ‘The territory contiguous to and including any street which is built up with structures devoted to business, industry, or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than 100 feet or distance of a quarter of a mile or more.’”

According to the website, www.drivinglaws.org, Pennsylvania law requires all maximum speed limits be posted. Traffic enforcement of violating speed limits cannot take place unless the speed limit is posted.

Typically, for a speeding violation, the fine is $35 plus $2 for every mile in excess of five miles per hour over the limit.

If the maximum limit is 65 miles per hour or higher, the fine is $42.50 plus $2 for every mile in excess of five miles per hour over the limit.

If a motorist exceeds a school zone limit by more than 11 miles per hour, fines can be as much as $500.

A speeding violation can add two or three points to a motorist’s driving record. Accumulating too many points can result in suspension of a driver’s license.

A speeding violation can lead to a reckless driving charge. A first reckless driving conviction, which is a summary offense, could result in up to 90 days in jail, a $200 fine and a six-month license suspension.

Speeding violations that result in the death of a person can bring a homicide-by-vehicle charge. A conviction would be a third-degree felony and carries up to seven years in prison and a maximum $15,000 in fines.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners next meets 7 p.m. Oct. 22 in the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave. The public can attend via the Zoom online meeting format. Pre-registration is required.