A new state law is doing more to try to catch speeding motorists.

We all know we’re required to slow down and drive the reduced, posted speed limit in work zones, but do we always follow the law?

Six years on the job, dodging speeding vehicles is nothing new for Colton Edinger, an employee of Joseph McCormick Construction Company. “I mean, when we’re working on the highways during the day and they’re flying right by us, we’re only inches away… They just fly by on their phones, not even noticing they’re in a construction zone a lot of the times. Or a lot of them just don’t care.”

It’s not just a courtesy to slow down; it’s the law. Speeding in work zones can result in fines, loss of license; even jail time. But catching offenders has not been easy… until now. Senate Bill 172 was just signed into law by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.

PennDOT and the PA Turnpike Commission will be jointly implementing a five-year pilot program through the new law.

Certain work zones on expressways or the turnpike will be equipped with cameras that detect speed.

Now, you will be forewarned, special signage will let motorists know that the particular work zone is being monitored by cameras. And, if you’re going at least 11 miles over the speed limit, your license number will be recorded.”

Press Officer for PennDOT, District 1, Jill Harry, tells us, “They will see something that indicates, yes, there are speed limit cameras being used in this work zone, so they should not be taken by surprise because they should be aware and paying attention to the signage that leads up to the work zone.”

If a violation is committed, the motorist will first receive a warning. The second offense results in a $75 fine. And, the third subsequent violation is a $150 fine.

The law is new and there are a lot of details that haven’t been worked out like how many cameras will be used or where and when you can expect to start seeing them.

At this point, PennDOT is telling us that the funds generated from the fines imposed will be used for safety initiatives.