A New York State 'Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring System' designed to caution drivers to reduce speeds in work zones in an effort to increase the safety of highway road workers, was rolled out on April 19th during National Work Zone Awareness Week.
Under the pilot program, cameras mounted on white state-issued Jeep Grand Cherokees stationed within active highway work zones, capture images of license plates of motorists who exceed the normal highway speed limit in construction zones. New York State Department of Transportation's Long Island Director Richard Causin said during a press conference last week that "All vehicles going over the speed limit would be photographed, but drivers themselves would not be." Registered motorists whose vehicles are caught on cameras exceeding speed limits in excess of 10 mph over posted speed limits in active work zones will receive tickets in the mail.
There is a 30 day grace period wherein motorists speeding in work zones will be issued automatic warnings in the mail (during the first month of the program). New York State Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, who supported the bill, noted that any potential "glitches" in the system will be worked out during the grace period.
In one 45 minute test period conducted last week, cameras captured 6,500 violations which, at $50 per ticket, would amount to $325,000 in fune-related revenues accrued for the state.
New York State Department of Transportation officials report that cameras will be in operation expressly while highway workers are on the job. "It's critical that these cameras are only operating when workers are there," Palumbo explained. "I know there's a lot of outcry against these cameras," the Senator continued, "but we need to be sure we're keeping our workers safe. Although there's been some backlash about work zone cameras, the bottom line is that it's about being alert in a work zone and maintaining a speed that is within 10 miles per hour of the speed limit, which is not an outrageous request of motorists," Palumbo said. Work zone signage will be conspicuously situated to caution drivers as they enter active work zones, Palumbo noted.
Commenting on the rollout of the new mobile speed cameras, Governor Kathy Hochul said in prepared statement: "...The new pilot program will be instrumental in encouraging safe driving habits in New York highway work zones, and protecting the lives of those who help maintain a safe and reliable highway system."
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Brookhaven Town resident, Michael Kaplan, however, who worked for decades as highway projects manager for the Superintendent of Highways in the Town of Huntington before retiring, said it's all about safety. Kaplan, the Democrat candidate running for Brookhaven Highway Superintendent in November, said in his years of experience, that he has seen numerous instances of motorists speeding past road construction sites. "I've seen them fly by paving operations, and speeding while construction was underway for retaining walls, with complete disregard for workers on the road," Kaplan said. "The ultimate goal is to make the roads safer. I think that the appropriate signage will make people slow down when driving through work zones," Kaplan noted.
A release by Hochul's office states, "To ensure the safety of both motorists and highway construction and maintenance workers, New York State's efforts to increase awareness about work zone safety aims to prevent work zone injuries and fatalities by encouraging alert driving through construction zones." According to Palumbo, "In 2021, New York averaged more than one motorist intrusion into a work zone per day (378)." Many of these intrusions, Palumbo explained, resulted in injuries to workers or drivers. "Regardless of politics, requiring drivers to maintain the speed limit in work zones helps keep everyone safe." A work zone intrusion, as defined by the state, is an incident where a motor vehicle has entered a portion of the roadway that is closed due to maintenance or construction activity. More than 50 of these intrusions resulted in injuries to either a highway worker or vehicle occupant. The law is intended to encourage drivers to "pay extra attention and adjust speeds accordingly to take every precaution in highway work zones" for everyone's safety.
Additional statistics show there were 225 highway worker fatalities in 2020 and 2021, and the fatality rate in work zones increased 14% in 2021.
Palumbo outlined the schedule of penalties for drivers who don't observe mph restrictions in work zone areas. DMV penalty points do not apply to these tickets. Registered motorists will be issued 30 day warnings in the mail. Drivers begin at $50 for the first offense and increase incrementally to $75 and $100 for second and third offenses respectively, for additional tickets issued within 18 months of the first violation.
Conversely, points issued for drivers exceeding speed limits on roads not undergoing construction are: 3 points for one mile over the speed limit; 4 points for eleven to twenty miles over the speed limit; 6 points for twenty one to thirty miles over the speed limit; 8 points for thirty one to forty miles over the speed limit; and 11 points for exceeding the speed limit in excess of 40 mph. A motorist who is issued 11 points within an 18 month period triggers a hearing for suspension of their driver's license. "Speed kills," Palumbo said, in conclusion. "It's all about keeping our workers and our roads safe."
Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro did not return phone and text attempts to South Shore Press for comment by press time.