State to start using camera system to ticket drivers in March

In just a few more weeks, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will begin using a camera system to enforce speed limits in construction zones.

Starting on March 4, 2020,PennDOT’s Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program will go into full effect, meaning drivers caught speeding in a work zone by the camera systems can be ticketed.

PennDOT describes how the system will work:

“When a vehicle is deemed to be traveling in excess of 11 miles per hour (mph) over the posted speed limit, the system will capture images of the front and rear of the vehicle and related information (i.e. speed limit, speed, location, date, time, etc.). This record and set of images make up a violation. This violation is then transferred to a back-office system where registered owner information is then obtained. If the violation passes all necessary Quality Assurance and Quality Control checks, a notice of violation is produced and mailed to the registered owner. A first-time notice of violation will be a warning carrying no financial penalty. Second and subsequent warnings will carry a financial penalty…”

While there is no fine for the initial violation of the AWZSE program, a second violation will result in a $75 fine. Every violation after that will result in a $150 fine.

PennDOT has already launched into a 60 day pre-enforcement testing period of AWZSE program.

PennDOT says that the camera systems have been used or are in use in the following locations:

• Interstate 78 Section 12M Project (Mile Markers 35-43), Berks County
• Interstate 476 Total Reconstruction (Mileposts 31-38), Montgomery County
• Interstate 83 Exit 4 Project (Mileposts 3-4), York County
• US 1, Section RC1, Bucks County
• Interstate 276, Section RC1, Bucks County
• US 1, Section WAV (Wayne Avenue Viaduct), Philadelphia
• PA 885, Section A45, Allegheny County

For additional information on the AWZSE system, you can click here.