New Michigan laws will allow cameras to be installed in construction zones to enforce traffic safety laws and curb violations.
Under legislation signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this week, drivers barreling through work zones could be ticketed for violating posted speed limits even if they aren’t immediately pulled over.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the new laws “commonsense” and said they will better protect safety on the roads and reduce crashes, save lives and put money back in people’s pockets.
“Whether they’re driving on them or working on them, these bills will make sure that every Michigander is safe on our roads," Whitmer said in a statement.
Making construction zones safer has been a recent priority for lawmakers. In 2023 alone, state police reported more than 8,000 work zone-related crashes with 24 fatalities in Michigan.
Speed enforcement systems could be stationed in work zones not separated from traffic by barriers. A sign would have to be placed one mile before the start of the work zone indicating the zone is monitored by an automated speed enforcement system.
The cameras would snap a photo of the vehicle’s license plate and include the location, date and time of the image. If the registered owner of the vehicle wasn’t the driver at the time of the traffic violation, they could submit an affidavit by mail or testify under oath in court under the proposed law.
Drivers caught driving 10 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit where workers were present could face mailed sanctions ranging from a written warning to a fine up to $300. Fines would double if the violation resulted in a crash.
Source: Mlive.com, Woodtv.com
