For a prima facie speed limit offense, the doubling applies only if the zone is marked by a sign indicating the applicable maximum lawful speed.

For a prima facie speed limit offense, the doubling applies only if the zone is marked by a sign indicating the applicable maximum lawful speed.

• A. The applicable maximum lawful speed
• B. The zone length
• C. The time of day
• D. The presence of workers

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that any doubling of penalties for a prima facie speeding offense is tied to what the posted sign says about the speed limit in that zone. The only factor that allows the penalty to double is that there is a sign showing the maximum lawful speed for that area. So the amount that matters is the speed shown on the sign—the applicable maximum lawful speed. If there’s a posted sign indicating a specific limit, the doubling applies to that limit; if there isn’t such a sign, the doubling doesn’t apply. That’s why the option referring to the applicable maximum lawful speed is the best choice. The other factors—zone length, time of day, or the presence of workers—don’t by themselves determine the doubling under this rule. The rule hinges on the speed shown on the sign.

The key idea is that any doubling of penalties for a prima facie speeding offense is tied to what the posted sign says about the speed limit in that zone. The only factor that allows the penalty to double is that there is a sign showing the maximum lawful speed for that area. So the amount that matters is the speed shown on the sign—the applicable maximum lawful speed. If there’s a posted sign indicating a specific limit, the doubling applies to that limit; if there isn’t such a sign, the doubling doesn’t apply.

That’s why the option referring to the applicable maximum lawful speed is the best choice. The other factors—zone length, time of day, or the presence of workers—don’t by themselves determine the doubling under this rule. The rule hinges on the speed shown on the sign.