Bolinsky Supports Safer Work Zone Legislation

HARTFORD- State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky (Newtown) voted in favor of stiffer penalties for drivers who violate certain laws within highway work zones.

The bill HB 5250, An Act Concerning the Safety of Workers in Roadway Work Zones, will require that judges must double the fine imposed on people convicted of violating certain motor vehicle laws in (1) a designated Department of Transportation (DOT) highway construction or a municipal road construction zone, (2) a utility company work zone, or (3) an active traffic incident management zone.

“Drivers need to realize there are consequences for reckless driving. Our hard working highway workers are in harm’s way and left vulnerable on our public roadways. We need to protect their lives when possible,” said Rep. Bolinsky.

The bill also expands the covered violations to include using hand-held cell phones in these work zones. Cell phone fines range from $ 125 for a first offense to $ 400 for a third and subsequent offenses.

The bill requires the DMV commissioner to assess up to two points against the driver’s license of a driver convicted of violating the state highway work zone safety law and to include a question on highway work zone safety and driver responsibility on each knowledge test given to a driver’s license applicant.

Additionally, the bill requires half of the additional fee collected for all motor vehicle violations in these work zones to be deposited in a work zone safety account the bill creates as a separate, nonlapsing account in the Special Transportation Fund. It requires DOT to use this fund, which must contain any money the law requires, for highway traffic enforcement, including expanding the “Operation Big Orange” program, to protect the safety of workers in highway work zones.

The bill now heads to the State senate for final approval.