From April to December 2023, DOT officials piloted a work zone camera program at three different sites, issuing 24,900 warning citations for speeding. With the threat of a $75 fine for repeat offenses, most drivers complied with speed limits, officials said, resulting in fewer than 750 second-offense violations. The DOT, led by Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, lobbied lawmakers during the 2024 legislative short session for more money for cameras and other transportation initiatives. That lobbying paid off as the state Legislature approved a bill that, among other things, allocates about $3 million for cameras; increases the number of work zones with cameras from three to 15 sites; mandates warnings and then caps fines at $75 for each offense; automatically fines drivers traveling 85 miles per hour; and lowers the threshold for fines in work zones from 15 mph above the speed limit to 10 miles above the speed limit. Morgan said the expanded program probably won’t start until early 2025 in order to secure vendors and contracts.
DOT Aims to Curb Work Zone Speeding with Expanded Camera Program