by Attorney Ashley Securda
INCREASED ENFORCEMENT IN WORK ZONE AREAS TO START THIS WEEK
Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE)
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDot) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission have partnered with the Pennsylvania State Police to create a statewide program to reduce speeding in work zone areas and to improve the safety for workers and motorists in work zone areas. The program called the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) starts this week. Act 86 of 2018, first introduced in January of 2017, amended Title 75 C.S. 3369 which allows for the enforcement of speeding violations with the use of a portable device (vehicle or other portable mounted device). Here’s what you need to know about the changes in the law:
1. You will receive a violation if traveling over 11 miles per hour over the speed limit.
2. The work zone must be an active work zone (workers present).
3. Work zones behind barriers are considered active.
4. The location of all devices must be posted on this website: workzonecameras.penndot.gov/locations. Therefore, motorists should be aware of the location of all devices before traveling.
5. Violations are sent to the registered owner of the vehicle.
Warning Signs
Before entering a work zone, motorists will see two warning signs indicating that the area is under surveillance – one indicating that the AWZSE is active and another indicating the location of the AWZSE system or device. Motorists should be aware that the AWZSE has devices on roadways close to Schuylkill County, including on Interstate 78 between mile markers 35 and 43 in Berks County.
Penalties
The penalties for violations of the law include a warning letter for the first offense. For the second offense, the fine is $75 and for the third and any subsequent offenses, the fine is $150.00. No points will be assessed against your license nor will penalties impact your ability to get car insurance.