Previously, the Pennsylvania legislature took steps to allow local municipalities to use radar to enforce speed. Now, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has started the process to implement electronic speed timing technology around the state. The technology involves automated systems which are mounted to vehicles and use cameras and speed timing. The technology records vehicles traveling 11mph or more above the posted speed limit.
Officials started with a 60 day “pre-enforcement” period. Now, effective March 9th, 2020, violations will be issued for speeding in a work zone. The first offense will be a warning, the second a $75 fine, and any more offenses a $150 fine. However, drivers will not receive any points on their licenses. Remember, these devices are only mounted on top of vehicles, so if you don’t see a vehicle stopped in the work zone then there is not a camera issuing these citations.
PennDOT says the technology will only be used in work zones for now, to reduce the number of crashes and deaths in these areas. However, PennDOT faces pushback from critics who say the cameras employed do not provide a clear image. Much more disturbing, the tickets are not issued to the speeder but instead are issued to the owner of the car, who may have no idea that the driver is speeding.
According to NBC Philadelphia, there are several locations in the Philadelphia area where the cameras are located:
- Berks County: I-78 between mile markers 35 to 43
- Bucks County: U.S. 1 at I-276 and I-276 at U.S. 1
- Montgomery County: I-476 between mile markers 31 to 38
- Philadelphia: U.S. 1 – Wayne Avenue Viaduct
If you have questions about a ticket, contact us today. For a primer on speeding defenses, see our previous post.
Or contact me privately:
steve@fairlielaw.com
(215) 997–1000