On March 29, 2023, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced a pilot program for work zone speed safety cameras. The program aims to improve the safety of work zones on Connecticut highways by monitoring the speed of vehicles passing through them.
The initiative, called the Know The Zone: Speed Safety Camera Program, will begin on April 10, 2023. It will initially be active in Norwalk and East Hartford and later on the Route 8 corridor between Shelton and Seymour.
When the program rolls out, SUVs with radar and cameras will be set up in designated work zones with 45 mph or more speed limits. The public will be notified of current and future SUV locations on the CTDOT's Know the Zone page. Signage will also be posed 500 and 200 feet before the SUVs.
The cameras will capture images of speeding vehicles traveling 15 mph or more above the work zone speed limit. The photos will be used to identify the vehicles' registered owners, and warnings or citations (Notices of Liability) will be issued to these individuals.
The penalties for drivers caught by the speed safety cameras will vary depending on the individual's driving history. First-time violators will receive a warning. Second-time offenders will be fined $75. Each subsequent violation carries a $150 fine.
The pilot program's goal is to evaluate the cameras' effectiveness in improving work zone safety and reducing the number of accidents, injuries, and fatalities in these areas. The pilot program will run for one year.
Protecting the lives of work zone workers, drivers, and passengers is vital, and the program can go a long way in doing this. Still, the initiative might result in an increased number of speeding tickets.
If you have been cited for speeding, schedule a consultation with a Carlson & Dumeer, LLC team member by contacting us at (877) 795-5594. We serve the people of Hartford.