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Work Zone Traffic Laws

All states have laws that increase the penalties for speeding or committing other traffic violations while in a construction work zone.

Often, this involves doubling the original fine for the same traffic violation outside of a construction zone. It can also be a fixed dollar amount. In some cases, the penalty is applicable only when workers are present and/or if signs are posted.

33 states double the fine for speeding (or committing other traffic violations) in a work zone.
23 states require workers to be present in the construction zone for the increased penalties to take effect.

State	Multiple of Original Fine	Violations Affected	Workers Must Be Present
Alabama	Double	Speeding	Yes
Alaska	Double	All	No
Arizona	Double	Speeding	Yes
Arkansas	Double	All moving traffic violations	Yes (and work zone signs must be posted)
California	Double	Various	Yes
Colorado	Double	All	No
Connecticut	Double	All moving traffic violations	Yes
Delaware	Not less than double for a 1st offense	Various	No
D.C.	No data
Florida	Double	Speeding	Yes
Georgia	$100-$2,000 and/or up to 12 months in jail	Speeding	Yes [work zone signs must be posted and either a) work zone personnel, or b) barriers, work vehicles or shoulder or pavement drop offs]
Hawaii	$250	Speeding	No
Idaho	$50	Speeding	No
Illinois	$375 for a 1st offense, $1,000 for subsequent offenses	Speeding	No
Indiana	$300 for a 1st offense, $500 for a 2nd, and $1,000 for a 3rd within 3 years	Speeding	No
Iowa	Double	All moving vehicle violations	No
Kansas	Double	All moving vehicle violations	No
Kentucky	Double	Speeding	No
Louisiana	Double	Speeding	Yes
Maine	Double	Speeding	No
Maryland	2X original max. fine; Not more than $1,000	Speeding	No
Massachusetts	Double	Speeding	No
Michigan	Double and not fewer than 3 points	All moving vehicle violations	No
Minnesota	Double or fine plus $25 (whichever is greater)	Speeding	Yes
Mississippi	$250 for a 1st offense, double for subsequent offenses	Speeding	Yes
Missouri	$250+ for a 1st offense, $300 for subsequent offenses	Speeding or passing	Yes
Montana	Double	All traffic violations	Yes
Nebraska	Double	Speeding	No
Nevada	Double (up to $1,000), 6 months jail time or 120 hours community services	Speeding	Yes
New Hampshire	$250-$500	Speeding	Yes
New Jersey	Double	All moving vehicle violations	No
New Mexico	Double	Speeding	No
New York	$90-$600 or up to 30 days in jail or both	Speeding	No
North Carolina	Additional $250	Speeding	No
North Dakota	Minimum $80	Speeding	Yes
Ohio	Double	Speeding	No, but must be during hours of actual work
Oklahoma	Double	Speeding	Yes
Oregon	Minimums: Misdemeanor, 20% of max.; Felony, 2% of max.	Various	No
Pennsylvania	Double	Various	Yes
Rhode Island	Double	Speeding	No
South Carolina	$75-$200 or not more than 30 days jail or both	Speeding	No
South Dakota	Double (up to $500), 30 days jail, or both	Speeding	No, but must be during hours of actual work
Tennessee	$250-$500	Speeding	Yes
Texas	Double minimum and maximum applicable	All moving vehicle violations	Yes
Utah	At least double	Speeding	Yes
Vermont	Double	Speeding	No
Virgin Islands	No data	Speeding	No data
Virginia	Not more than $500	Speeding	Yes
Washington	Double	Speeding	No
West Virginia	Not more than $200 or 20 days in jail or both	Speeding	Yes
Wisconsin	Double minimum and maximum applicable	Various	Yes
Wyoming	No increased fine but driver license suspension	Speeding	No
Total	50 States + Virgin Islands	Various	23 States

Sources: National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse and State Highway Safety Offices.