WSDOT begins rollout of Work Zone Speed Camera Program in WA
WSDOT starts Work Zone Speed Camera Program
The goal is to reduce speeding, a leading cause of serious injury or death in work zones for both workers and drivers.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced it will begin rolling out its Work Zone Speed Camera Program soon, with the first camera expected to be set up in early 2025.
(WSDOT)
According to WSDOT, legislation for the cameras took effect in 2023, and the program will run through 2030. The goal is to reduce speeding, a leading cause of serious injury or death in work zones for both workers and drivers.
Keep reading to learn more about the program, how much a speeding ticket in a work zone will cost, and what led to the new law.
How do WA's work zone speed cameras work?
According to WSDOT, before a driver enters a work zone with camera enforcement, signs will indicate the posted speed limit and inform drivers that work zone cameras are active.
Whenever a vehicle is speeding, the camera will capture a photo of the vehicle, its license plate, and other information, such as speed, location, date, and time.
Troopers with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) will review the images from the speeding cameras. If a violation is confirmed, a notice of infraction will be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle within 30 days.
WSDOT says that once a driver receives an infraction, they can acknowledge it, pay the penalty, contest it, appeal, or request a reduction through a hearing.
Will WA's work zone speed cameras take my photo?
WSDOT says that photos from the work zone speed cameras will not show who was driving the vehicle, but they will capture an image of the vehicle and its license plate.
Covering a license plate is also illegal in Washington after a new law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
When will work zone speed cameras start in WA?
According to a Feb. 6, 2025, press release from WSDOT, the program will begin with one camera in early 2025.
What we don't know:
WSDOT did not specify when or where it would be placed.
WSDOT said two more cameras will be set up in the spring, and as many as six by summer.
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How much will a speeding ticket from a work zone camera cost in WA?
According to WSDOT, there is no fine for the first infraction. After the initial warning, it will cost $248 for every violation.
Why are work zone speed cameras being set up in WA?
Why you should care:
A study found that nearly two in three construction workers reported a crash in a construction zone in 2024. The state of Washington averages 1,345 work zone crashes per year — and that total does not include near misses. According to WSDOT's traffic analysis, about 95% of people injured in work zone crashes are drivers, passengers or nearby pedestrians.
What they're saying:
Paul Jones, a WSDOT worker, said he began his professional career in the oil and gas industry, which sometimes involved dealing with explosives. After transitioning into road construction, he says working in highway construction zones is more dangerous than handling explosives.
"With explosives, you have all these safety procedures. As long as you follow them, you’re fine," said Paul, a construction compliance leader on the State Route 167 Corridor Improvements project. "When it comes to traffic, you can follow all the safety procedures and a drunk driver can still get you, even if you follow everything you’re supposed to be doing."
Paul hopes the work zone cameras will change the way people drive on the road, similar to how speed cameras changed the way people drive near schools.
"We as a society really value taking care of our children," he explained. "But we don't have that sort of civic responsibility and understanding regarding construction workers."
The Source: Information for this story came from a press release by the Washington State Department of Transportation.
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