BALTIMORE – Fines for speeding in a work zone in Maryland will double starting Saturday.
The new law follows the March 2023 crash on I-695 in Baltimore County that killed six construction workers.
Investigators say two cars were traveling more than 100 mph before colliding and flying into the work zone.
Melachi Brown was driving 121 mph when her car was hit by a car driven by Lisa Lea, who was trying to change lanes. Lea’s car entered the work area and ran over the workers.
Video obtained by WJZ shows the two cars colliding at high speed.
How much will the fine increase?
The new law increases the fine for drivers caught speeding by speed cameras in work zones from $40 to $80.
“We don’t want anyone to get a ticket,” said Will Pines of the Maryland Department of Transportation. “We want people to slow down and be able to drive safely on our roads.”
In January, fines for speed violations in Maryland work zones will become a tiered system. Fines will be determined based on speed and will be doubled if there are workers in the work zone. Those fines could reach $1,000.
“Across the country we’ve seen the success of automated speed enforcement, which typically slows motorists down and when people get tickets, they usually only return one before changing their behavior,” Pines said. “Ultimately, that’s what we need. We need drivers to change their behavior.”
Why is this law important?
In February, Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller spoke about the legislation before a House of Delegates committee.
“It is a moral imperative that we protect highway workers who provide a critical public service that we all benefit from,” Miller said.
Relatives reflect on the deadly accident
WJZ spoke with the family of one of the highway workers who died in that accident.
“Most people you talk to never think about this unless it affects them, they just don’t care until it affects them,” said Nora DiMaggio, whose mother died in the crash.
Maryland State Police identified the six contract workers who were killed as Rolando Ruiz, 46, of Laurel; Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar, 43, of Frederick; José Armando Escobar, 52, of Frederick; Mahlon Simmons III, 31, of Union Bridge; Mahlon Simmons II, 52, of Union Bridge; and Sybil Lee Dimaggio, 46, of Glen Burnie.
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Alex Glaze
Keynote USA
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