Drivers who illegally speed through certain Connecticut highway work zones this spring and summer can expect a surprise in the mail: a ticket.
In an effort to protect highway workers, the Connecticut Dept. of Transportation (D0T) introduced its "Know the Zone" speed safety camera program, which will take effect April 10.
The $4 million pilot program currently features three white SUV's outfitted with radar and cameras. The system will nab vehicles traveling 15 mph or more faster than the posted work zone speed limit.
"The cameras in the back will capture the images of license plates," says state Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. "Each night, they'll download those images... and check to see who they're owned by and who they're registered to and process those infractions."
Tickets will be issued to vehicle owners, not necessarily the driver. First-time offenders will receive a warning. A second offense will be greeted with a $75 fine, and a third will be $150.
DOT says despite state law-- which requires drivers to slow down and move over when approaching work sites or emergency scenes-- work zone speeding remains a deadly problem. More than 3,600 work zone crashes were documented over a recent four-year span (2019-2022). They included 13 fatalities and dozens of injuries.
Eucalitto says the law behind the program includes privacy protections. He says no one in the car will be identified and any faces picked up photographically will be blurred.
The program will debut live at work sites in Norwalk (I-95) and East Hartford (Rte. 2), followed by Rte. 8 between Shelton and Seymour. Updated site information will be posted online, and each location will be marked with special "speed limit photo enforced" signs.