Fines For Speeding In MD Work Zones To Double Starting June 1

MARYLAND — Fines for speed camera violations are set to spike on Saturday when a new law designed to better protect road workers goes into effect, the Maryland Department of Transportation reminded motorists this week.

Beginning June 1, fines will increase from $40 to $80, state officials said in a news release. The increase is part of the Maryland Road Worker Protection Act, which Gov. Wes Moore signed into law in April.

In January 2025, speed violation fines will then convert to a tiered system based on how fast the vehicle is traveling above the speed limit. Fines range from $60 to $500 and will double if road workers are present, state officials said.

The new law also allows speed cameras to be placed in more work zones across the state. In larger work zones, more than one camera may be deployed, officials said.

Cameras will be equipped with flashing blue lights to alert motorists, according to the state.

The new law was first introduced in January, 10 months after six highway workers were killed when a car traveling more than 120 mph struck them on the Baltimore Beltway.

“Last March, Marylanders stood with broken hearts from the work zone crash on I-695 in which six highway workers’ lives tragically ended in a moment,” Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller said at the bill signing in April, according to the Baltimore Banner. “It’s a moral imperative that we protect road workers who provide critical service.”

Between 2018 and 2022, there were 7,193 work zone crashes in Maryland, or roughly 1,500 each year, according to state data. Forty-four people were killed in those crashes and 2,769 were injured.

Many of the victims were highway workers, but others are drivers and their passengers. In 2023, 12 people died in work zone crashes and other eight have died so far in 2024. This includes 14 workers and six drivers and passengers, state officials said.