{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-69-69-101","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 69, § 69-101","heading":"Declaration of legislative intent","body":"\n\n(a) Recognizing that safe and efficient highway transportation\n\nis a matter of important interest to all the people in the state,\n\nthe Legislature hereby determines and declares that an integrated\n\nsystem of roads and highways is essential to the general welfare of\n\nthe State of Oklahoma.\n\n(b) The provision of such a system of facilities, and its\n\nefficient management, operation and control, are recognized as\n\nurgent problems, and as the proper objectives of highway\n\nlegislation.\n\n(c) Inadequate roads and streets obstruct the free flow of\n\ntraffic; result in undue cost of motor vehicle operation; endanger\n\nthe health and safety of the citizens of the state; depreciate\n\nproperty values; and impede generally economic and social progress\n\nof the state.\n\n(d) In designating the highway systems of this state, as\n\nhereinafter provided, the Legislature places a high degree of trust\n\nin the hands of those officials whose duty it shall be, within the\n\nlimits of available funds, to plan, develop, operate, maintain and\n\nprotect the highway facilities of this state, for present as well as\n\nfor future use.\n\n(e) To this end, it is the intent of the Legislature to make the\n\nState Highway Commission and its Director, and the Department of\n\nHighways of the State of Oklahoma acting through the Commission,\n\ncustodian of the State Highway System and to provide sufficiently\n\nbroad authority to enable the Commission and the Department to\n\nfunction adequately and efficiently in all areas of appropriate\n\njurisdiction, subject to the limitations of the Constitution and the\n\nlegislative mandate hereinafter imposed.\n\n(f) The Legislature intends to declare, in general terms, the\n\npowers and duties of the Commission and its Director, leaving\n\nspecific details to be determined by reasonable rules, regulations\n\nand policies which may be promulgated by the Commission. In short,\n\nthe Legislature intends by a general grant of authority to the\n\nCommission to delegate sufficient power and authority to enable the\n\nCommission and the Department to carry out the broad objectives\n\nstated above.\n\n(g) It is the further intent of the Legislature to bestow upon\n\nthe boards of county commissioners similar authority with respect to\n\nthe county highway system. The efficient management, operation and\n\ncontrol of our county roads and other public thoroughfares are\n\nlikewise a matter of vital public interest. The problem of\n\nestablishing and maintaining adequate roads and highways,\n\neliminating congestion, reducing accident frequency, providing\n\nparking facilities and taking all necessary steps to ensure safe and\n\nconvenient transportation on these public ways is no less urgent.\n\n(h) While it is necessary to fix responsibilities for the\n\nlocation, design, construction, maintenance and operation of the\n\nseveral systems of highways, it is intended that the State of\n\nOklahoma shall have an integrated system of all roads, highways and\n\nstreets to provide safe and efficient highway transportation\n\nthroughout the state. The authority hereinafter granted to the\n\nCommission and to counties and municipalities to assist and\n\ncooperate with each other and to coordinate their activities is\n\ntherefore essential.\n\n(i) The Legislature hereby determines and declares that this\n\nCode is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health\n\nand safety, for promotion of the general welfare, and as a\n\ncontribution to the national defense.","path":["OK Code","Title 69"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os69.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"8fe81d4b63bdbb3937681c510004b3bd1bce950fe2681255983b85fd3aa2c3be","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-69-69-1004","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-69-69-1101"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}