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July law of the month

Traffic citation fines are double in work zones

In the wake of devastating flooding and storm damage in the southern third of Wisconsin, countless local streets, county highways and major freeways will need extensive repairs. In addition, routine summertime road construction is in full swing in other parts of the state.

With so many roads under construction, motorists now face the challenge of safely maneuvering through work zones.

"Driving through a work zone requires patience. Work zones are dangerous under the best of circumstances, but your reaction time and margin for error are reduced significantly if you speed, tailgate or don't pay attention to rapidly changing traffic situations," State Patrol Superintendent David Collins says. "In work zones, workers and equipment often are operating within a few feet of traffic. In addition, work zones frequently have narrow lanes, different merge lanes from side roads, and rough or uneven pavement. Rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of crash in a work zone. Although construction workers are at a great risk of being hit, about three out of four people killed in work zone crashes are motorists."

To prevent crashes and save lives, fines for traffic violations in work zones are double the usual amounts when workers are present. Posted work zone speed limits are still in force even when workers are not present.

"The total costs for speeding in excess of the posted limit in a work zone range from $198 for 1 to 10 mph over the limit all the way up to $879 for 45 mph or more over the limit. You also could have between three and six demerit points added to your driving record," Superintendent David Collins says. "State Patrol officers are specifically assigned to many work zones, and they will strictly enforce posted speed limits and other traffic laws. We are trying to protect both workers and motorists in work zones."

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Questions about the content of this page:
Steve L. Olson, steven.olson@dot.state.wi.us 
Last modified: June 30, 2008