New York State Governor Kathy Hochul’s office has announced the implementation of an automated construction zone speed monitoring pilot program on several state highways. The initiative, which is a collaboration between the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority, aims to enforce speed limits in highway construction and maintenance work zones.
The pilot program will utilize 30 radar-based speed monitoring systems, with 20 systems being deployed on state Department of Transportation-maintained highways and 10 on the state Thruway. Governor Hochul expressed her gratitude to highway workers who risk their lives daily to maintain the state’s roads, stressing the importance of the program in promoting safe driving habits and protecting the lives of these workers.
Fines for violations under the pilot program will be structured as follows: $50 for the first violation, $75 for the second, and $100 for the third and any subsequent violations within 18 months of the first. Unpaid fines can lead to a vehicle registration hold, which prevents drivers from renewing their registrations until the fines are paid.
Frank Hoare, the interim Executive Director of the Thruway Authority, highlighted the dangers faced by maintenance crews working in close proximity to high-speed traffic. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of all drivers to exercise caution in work zones, and expressed his belief that the speed cameras will save lives by ensuring the safety of both employees and customers.
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