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Difficulty: HardSpeed Limits and Speed Regulation

Under statutory traffic laws governing speed regulation, exceeding a posted 'prima facie' speed limit creates an irrebuttable legal presumption of violation, meaning a motorist cannot legally defend against a citation by demonstrating that their speed was safe and reasonable under prevailing road and weather conditions.

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Answer

False. Exceeding a prima facie speed limit creates a rebuttable presumption rather than an irrebuttable violation, permitting a driver to present evidence that their speed was safe and prudent under prevailing conditions.
The statement is false because a prima facie speed limit creates a rebuttable presumption of an unlawful speed rather than an irrebuttable one. Under the Basic Speed Law framework, a driver cited for exceeding a prima facie limit has the opportunity to demonstrate that their speed was safe and prudent given the prevailing road, weather, and traffic conditions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the legal definition of 'prima facie' speed limits vs 'absolute' speed limits.
Absolute speed limits strictly prohibit speeds above the limit under any circumstance, whereas prima facie speed limits serve as a statutory guideline of what is presumed safe.
Understanding the statutory distinction between absolute and prima facie limits is critical to evaluating legal speed regulation standards.
2
Evaluate the nature of the legal presumption created by a prima facie speed limit.
The presumption is legally rebuttable rather than irrebuttable (conclusive).
If a driver is cited for exceeding a prima facie speed limit, they are permitted in court to show that their speed complied with the Basic Speed Law under the actual environmental and traffic conditions present.

Key Concept

Distinction Between Prima Facie and Absolute Speed Limits
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Speed Limits and Speed Regulation

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