work zone speed cameras

[Big Dave]

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/23/2362.asp


Colorado: Freeway Photo Radar Approved
Colorado approves freeway speed cameras. Creates possibity of ticket for failing to move over for photo radar van.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/pix/britter.jpgThe Colorado state legislature gave its final approval last week to legislation allowing the use of speed cameras in highway work zones. The move was part of a series of bills designed to raise $18.1 million annually for the state budget through increased traffic fine amounts and expanded ticketing operations. The latest measure was approved by a 61-2 margin in the state House and 22-12 in the state Senate. Governor Bill Ritter (D) has indicated his intention to sign the bill into law next week.

The new program will first create a "work zone" where speed limits are lowered and fines doubled for up to four hours before any worker actually shows up. During this time, conventional police enforcement would issue newly boosted fines of up to $540 each. Once a highway worker arrives, a private company can activate photo radar vans capable of issuing thousands of citations per day. The Colorado Department of Transportation would pay this company a bounty for each ticket it is able to issue using gas tax money.

The legislation then makes it possible for police to ticket any vehicle that passes a speed camera van that is parked on the side of the road if the motorist had been in an adjacent lane and failed to "move over" to the left. Several states already require motorists to take similar actions for marked ambulances and police cars, but Colorado will become the first to add "privately owned vehicles as are designated by the state motor vehicle licensing agency necessary to the preservation of life and property." Tow trucks "approved by the public utilities commission" would also fall under this broad definition of safety vehicles.

In 2006, Illinois (http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/11/1138.asp) pioneered the concept of using freeway work zone speed cameras to generate millions in the name of protecting construction workers. Studies show that only 15 percent (http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/07/729.asp) of freeway construction zone injuries are actually caused by automobiles. The vast majority of work zone "vehicle" accidents were found to involve workers injured by their own construction equipment.

A full copy of the legislation is available in a 55k PDF file at the source link below.

Source: http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/pix/pdf-mini.gif House Bill 1036 (http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2008/co-hb1036final.pdf) (Colorado General Assembly, 4/30/2008)

So now we have to move over for the speed cameras, AND the private company issuing the tickets gets a bounty from each ticket from funds from gas tax revenue, not directly from the tickets themselves? Yay revenue.

[Loki]

"but Colorado will become the first to add "privately owned vehicles as are designated by the state motor vehicle licensing agency necessary to the preservation of life and property."

So I hope theres a way to tell when were supposed to move over for these privately owned vehicles. :shrug:

Seems like if everyone's always moving over Unnecessarily for fear of getting a ticket and not knowing if they need to or not, could cause more issues than it helps. But then again when does Govt work to ease real issues???

Oh and BTW I didn't vote for "them" :flipoff2:

[Steve]

I at least give 'em some credit for being honest about why they're doing it. Would have been nice to at least give lip service to improved safety for the workers. :shrug:

The Colorado state legislature gave its final approval last week to legislation allowing the use of speed cameras in highway work zones. The move was part of a series of bills designed to raise $18.1 million annually for the state budget through increased traffic fine amounts and expanded ticketing operations.

[CannonBall]

yeah, I always sort of thought traffic law enforcement was for safety more so than revenue. They can't raise taxes because of that damned TABOR, but they can do all this crap. Makes me want to puke.
-Nate

[BURNTFISH]

As a C-DOT worker I am all for this. What they are saying is when you come in to a cone zone you should be slowing down and moving over already to give us a break and not kill us anymore. There are several fatal accidents in work zones each year from traffic not getting over and running threw the work zone. I hate going to funerals and memorials for C-DOT workers just cause some asshole driver was in a hurry to get some where and didn't give themselves time to get there.

[scottycards]

Wow. $540?

Holy cats, that's a lot.

[Speedwagon]

Don't know how they are going to implement it here, but in Illinois, the work zone vans actually have a state trooper INSIDE of them. It is not a completely automated process. The trooper is there as an actual witness I suppose to the whole thing, and they are only using them in active work zones. Or at least, that's what they said was going to happen. I never actually saw one of the vans.

[Big Dave]

As a C-DOT worker I am all for this. What they are saying is when you come in to a cone zone you should be slowing down and moving over already to give us a break and not kill us anymore. There are several fatal accidents in work zones each year from traffic not getting over and running threw the work zone. I hate going to funerals and memorials for C-DOT workers just cause some asshole driver was in a hurry to get some where and didn't give themselves time to get there.

I don't think anybody will disagree with you on this, but the study in Illinois found that only 15% of construction zone accidents are because of traffic through the work zone, and they have openly admitted that they're doing this for the revenue, not the safety of the workers on the side of the road. And if someone's dumb enough to plow into a bunch of construction workers, do you think they're even going to realize there's a van there taking their picture?

[Speedwagon]

As a C-DOT worker I am all for this. What they are saying is when you come in to a cone zone you should be slowing down and moving over already to give us a break and not kill us anymore. There are several fatal accidents in work zones each year from traffic not getting over and running threw the work zone. I hate going to funerals and memorials for C-DOT workers just cause some asshole driver was in a hurry to get some where and didn't give themselves time to get there.

edit: Ok, I reread... you said from them actually going THROUGH the cones and into the work zone. I read it differently the first time.

[IntrepidXJ]

Don't know how they are going to implement it here, but in Illinois, the work zone vans actually have a state trooper INSIDE of them. It is not a completely automated process. The trooper is there as an actual witness I suppose to the whole thing, and they are only using them in active work zones. Or at least, that's what they said was going to happen. I never actually saw one of the vans.

Not true....the vans in Illinois were unmanned as well.

[Speedwagon]

Not true....the vans in Illinois were unmanned as well.

From the Illinois State Patrol:
http://www.isp.state.il.us/media/pressdetails.cfm?ID=429
The ISP and IDOT want voluntary compliance of the work zone speed limits to help further reduce work zone crashes and fatalities. Photo speed enforcement vans are a state-of-the-art tool staffed by specially-trained Troopers to achieve this goal.

And at least in Illinois, they give you fair warning:
Signs will be placed in project locations where photo enforcement will be occurring. Be on the lookout for the photo enforcement van and slow down. ?If you are driving at excessive speeds in work zones, you put your own life and the lives of others at risk,? stated Captain Wolf.

[CLYDE]

As a Tow operator, for so many years,, I applaud the move.. Its only common sense to move away from anything parked on the shoulder anyway. Cant wait to slam the first one who whines they got a ticket for not moving over,,, man thats gonna be fun for me..

[Oscar]

Only thing with moving over is this I got stopped for not doing it which I didn't.
But I couldn't cause there was a vehicle to close in my opinion in the other lane. After discussing it with the sheriff he finally saw my point.

[Budman]

Okay here is the problem with this. I ahve seen it in several states that I have lived in.

I an all for the safety of the HWY workers, but I saw this same scam in AK, only the state used the school zones as the cover. At least CO is stating upfront that is is a money maker. I hope CO makes the same mistake that AK did and hires a contractor to do the tickets. The contractor got paid by the ticket, so they decided to go ahead and do tickets outside the school hours. Finally enough people decided to get together that they managed to get them all thrown out.

I got a ticket for goint 35MHP in a 15MPH school zone, problem was it was 630PM on a Sunday, and the posted Speed limit was 35. Did not matter. It was an automated process. BLah blah blah... System got thrown out, and they will likely never get that setup again.

I forsee "Construction zone tickets on sundays when there is not a worker in a 40 mile radius.

[al24]

I don't think anybody will disagree with you on this, but the study in Illinois found that only 15% of construction zone accidents are because of traffic through the work zone
Just curious, what caused the other 85% of accidents through the work zone if it wasn't traffic?

:shrug:

[Steve]

Just curious, what caused the other 85% of accidents through the work zone if it wasn't traffic?

:shrug:

From the article linked in the OP: According to a 2001 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, automobiles accounted for only 15 percent of highway construction accidents involving an injury. Trucks were the primary cause of injury in 45 percent of cases and road grading and surfacing equipment caused 15 percent of injuries. Construction machines caused 53 percent of fatalities and trucks caused 26 percent. (View full study, 436k PDF format.)

This means that many accidents classified as "work zone related" in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics include instances where, for example, a dump truck backs over a worker or an asphalt steam roller hits a worker (examples). That's why the National Transportation Safety Board recommended in 1992 that, "the reporting of work zone fatalities should be revised to distinguish between persons driving highway maintenance vehicles within work zones and other drivers who crash in work zones while traversing the work zone site."

Not surprisingly most injuries in road work zones are occupational injuries due to the work itself, not injuries due to public traffic.

[Brutus]

Just curious, what caused the other 85% of accidents through the work zone if it wasn't traffic?

:shrug:

The vast majority of work zone "vehicle" accidents were found to involve workers injured by their own construction equipment.

:flipoff2:

[al24]

From the article linked in the OP:

Not surprisingly most injuries in road work zones are occupational injuries due to the work itself, not injuries due to public traffic.
Actually, I do find that surprising. Seems like construction companies have an employee training problem.

[Yucca-Man]

Si I have to pull over a lane if there's a trooper or deputy with someone stopped on the side of the road. Sounds good.

I have to pull over for emergency vehicles and give them the right of way. That's fine too.

I will now need to pull over to another lane for this privately-owner speed trap on the shoulder? Sounds bogus...

I'm getting the impression that somehow I'm supposed to pull over to another lane for any vehicle on the shoulder? Does that include the Tijuana Express that broke down and is abandoned on the shoulder of I-25?

What about the AirCare Colorado privately-owned pailpipe sniffer on the shoulder of the onramp? Am I supposed to center myself between the sensors, or pull as far to the left away from the van as safely possible???

[MonkeyBomb]

What a load of crap. Who is going to issue those tickets...........Unless your a law enforcement official you can't. If a private agency tried i'm guessing it's at least a misdeamenor for impersonating a police officer..........At least that would be my angle. I'm all about not speeding especially in construction zones. I just have a huge problems with photo radar. X2 if its for raising cash as opposed to actually benefiting people.:shrug:

[TwoDogs]

Monkey Bomb, that's how the county will fund you next raise!!! :flipoff2:

If it's a private company, any guesses on how long it takes for the law suits to begin??

[DaleD]

Oh Just great. I just got hired today to do linehaul for FedEx ground. So not only do i need to watch out for just plain idiot drivers but now civilians that can give out tickets? WTF

I'm all for safety and all but this is plain stupid..

[TheCopperCowboy]

Now the free market and privatization of services is a bad thing? :rolleyes: It will cost less than hiring and training POs that should be handling real crimes instead of pulling over someone practicing poor driving habits. Every construction zone I drove through was posted before I approached, posted within the construction zone and even thanked me as I left the construction zone. Judging by what I witnessed by some drivers, the state will make a killing with the additional revenue and hopefully the message will get out. Slow the fawk down! :tisk:

[j5]

Actually, I do find that surprising. Seems like construction companies have an employee training problem.

Same guys that are going to run the ticketing cameras. That makes me sleep better.

[Budman]

Now the free market and privatization of services is a bad thing? :rolleyes:

Yes, with POs, they do not get a cut of the ticket, so there is no motivation to issue as many tickets as possible. This company will make more by giving out more tickets.

[TheCopperCowboy]

This company will make more by giving out more tickets.

Business 101. Slow down, do the speed limit and you could effectively put them out of business. ;)

[Dave McDonald]

Have any of you ever had to change a tire on the shoulder of the highway, only to get sandblasted by the jackasses that come ripping down on you huggin the white line at 80mph? I'd like to give them a lesson in common curteousy driven home with a 2x4.

I change lanes anytime there's a vehicle on the shoulder. Cuts down the risk for them and me. This law won't affect me at all, except that I won't be the only one moving over anymore.

[Hippie]

The new program will first create a "work zone" where speed limits are lowered and fines doubled for up to four hours before any worker actually shows up



WTF

[CLYDE]

Many years ago I got tagged by a truck mirror while hooking up a tow, guy that hit me never even slowed down, and it broke his mirror, so not like he didnt know he got me. People that dont move over suck...

[DADA_JEEP]

What a load of crap. Who is going to issue those tickets...........Unless your a law enforcement official you can't. If a private agency tried i'm guessing it's at least a misdeamenor for impersonating a police officer..........At least that would be my angle. I'm all about not speeding especially in construction zones. I just have a huge problems with photo radar. X2 if its for raising cash as opposed to actually benefiting people.:shrug:
they are a "Contractor" for the CSP, issuing tickets in the CSP's name.

Yes, with POs, they do not get a cut of the ticket, so there is no motivation to issue as many tickets as possible. This company will make more by giving out more tickets.
true, see below for legality issue

Business 101. Slow down, do the speed limit and you could effectively put them out of business. ;)
very true, no tickets, no monies, but i doubt they'll NEVER get a ticket.

Now, in both Hawaii and California there have recently been very similar situations where "Contractors" working in the name of the state were issued a "per citation" fee for their services. In Hawaii it was speedtrap vans, and in California, it was McDonnel Douglass' red light cameras.

In Hawaii it was found that there was no PC for photos, as the persons running the cameras were not trained to estimate speeds and then varify with the radar/laser/camera deal they had. Believe it or not, an LEO is supposed to ESTIMATE your speed and then use the RADAR/LASER to verify that you are speeding. The speeder vans went away pretty quickly after that.

In California, the system paid the contractor per citation for red light cameras, the law suit in this case went to the state supreme court where it was deemed unconstitutional to allow a "bounty" for services. McDonnel-Douglass is now paid a flat fee for the service.

[Big Dave]

Have any of you ever had to change a tire on the shoulder of the highway, only to get sandblasted by the jackasses that come ripping down on you huggin the white line at 80mph? I'd like to give them a lesson in common curteousy driven home with a 2x4.

I change lanes anytime there's a vehicle on the shoulder. Cuts down the risk for them and me. This law won't affect me at all, except that I won't be the only one moving over anymore.

Many years ago I got tagged by a truck mirror while hooking up a tow, guy that hit me never even slowed down, and it broke his mirror, so not like he didnt know he got me. People that dont move over suck...

I move over whenever it's possible when there's someone broken down on the side of the road, or if one time has someone pulled over. Especially considering my truck is a little wider than your average econobox. But now if I don't move over for some van that's parked on the side of the road, I get hit for a $500+ ticket? That's fawked.

I still haven't seen anything about this on our major local news sources. I read through a summary of the most recent legislative session in the Post yesterday and there wasn't even a mention of this.

[deadjeep]

I can't believe that noone has tagged onto the fact that they can lower the speed limits in a construction zone "up to 4 hours before workers get there"
What the hell is this dribble? I see no reason to give a crap about running over CDot workers 4 hours before they show up.

I always move over a lane for vehicles on the side of the road if they are occupied or emergency types. I was under the impression that you were required to slow down if you couldn't change lanes and that was acceptable.
Is this wrong? If I am unable to safely get over, am I still susceptible to a ticket from some officer that has nothing better to do than babysit a ticket van?

[CLYDE]

Posted speed limits are lower 24 hours a day, wether anyones there or not, if the sign says 55 thru a zone, then thats the posted limit, period. Its not like a school zone where its different at different times of day..

[Loki]

I can't believe that noone has tagged onto the fact that they can lower the speed limits in a construction zone "up to 4 hours before workers get there"
What the hell is this dribble? I see no reason to give a crap about running over CDot workers 4 hours before they show up.

I always move over a lane for vehicles on the side of the road if they are occupied or emergency types. I was under the impression that you were required to slow down if you couldn't change lanes and that was acceptable.
Is this wrong? If I am unable to safely get over, am I still susceptible to a ticket from some officer that has nothing better to do than sit in a van and generate revenue for the state.

Fixed it for you. :D

[MonkeyBomb]

they are a "Contractor" for the CSP, issuing tickets in the CSP's name..

State law really prohibits anyone except a post certified peace officer from issuing a summons to a person. (even a contractor) That is the work of an LEO. The only exceptions I am aware of are municipal parking and maybe some humane society tickets.

I believe the same arguement you had shown would be made here as that is a national standard. There are actually more things that need to be done for a radar ticket to be "good' in court but I won't go into those deatils. All of those involve a real person being there not to mention a real "cop" issuing a ticket.

I do my best not to speed and I have also taken a mirror to the back on the side of a highway. I'll tell you it hurts. I would in no way accept a ticket from a private company. An LEO has discretion as to what speed he decides he will write a ticket for from one mph over on up. And at least has the opportunity to find out if there was a legitimate reason someone is speeding. I doubt a private for profit company will excercise discretion when a profit is on the line.

I can see the law being overturned and succesful lawsuits against a for profit company.

[Budman]

Once again, this was AK, but I am guessing that it will be similar here until they get it overthrown. The "Ticket" you got was not a "Summons" It was more like a bill. There was a go to court option, but the process was longer and more painful than going to court for a regular ticket. What people found out very quickly was that if you did not pay the ticket, you did not lose your license, or get a warrent for failure to appear, they turned you over to a collection company or some such crap. Of course once this was made public, no one paid the fines, then they lost the lawsuit, and the entire program went away.