A bill enacting harsher penalties for breaking traffic laws in work zones is awaiting Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature. Senate Bill 887 unanimously passed the Senate last week.
“This legislation provides for additional penalties depending upon the nature of the injury to a worker, a municipal worker or a police officer or emergency responder; it’s geared toward trying to change the culture of drivers on our roadways,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, one of the bill’s co-sponsors.
An average of 100 highway workers are killed and tens of thousands more injured each year, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Currently under state law:
- Motorists caught driving 11 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone will face a 15-day license suspension;
- Motorists who are involved in a traffic accident in an active work zone and are found to have been driving at an unsafe speed will face a 15-day license suspension;
- Fines for certain traffic violations are doubled in active work zones – including speeding, driving under the influence and not obeying traffic laws;
- Drivers convicted of causing a fatal collision while under the influence of alcohol or drugs face up to five years in prison.
This bill would focus on endangerment a highway worker, which would call for a fine of $1,000; aggravated endangerment of a highway worker would call for a fine of up to $5,000 and six-month license suspension; and a $10,000 fine would be imposed for the death of a highway worker, as well as a one-year license suspension.
“We already have provisions in place that deal specifically with, for example, doubling the fines for speed limits and the like,” said Costa. “But this is an instance where if you do injure someone because of your recklessness and negligence, that there are additional fines that are imposed – trying to create and draw attention to the fact that we have to be more thoughtful, particularly as we are driving through work zones.”
The bill also broadens the definition of “highway workers” to include emergency personnel, local government and municipal workers, members of the Pennsylvania State Police and law enforcement community as well as contractors or utility company workers.
Gov. Wolf's Spokesman Jeff Sheridan said in an email, the governor does support the measure. It's unclear when he will sign it into law.
