Work Zone Speed Safety Camera systems are a vehicle or other apparatus-based system that detects the speed of passing vehicles. When a vehicle is deemed to be traveling in excess of 11 miles per hour (mph) over the speed limit or higher, the system will capture images of the front and rear of the vehicle and related information (i.e. speed limit, speed, location, date, time, etc.).
The goal of the Work Zone Speed Safety Cameras program is to reduce speeds in work zones, improve driver behavior, save worker and traveler lives, complement existing enforcement by PSP, and promote work zone safety.
The legislation enabling the Work Zone Speed Safety Cameras program in Pennsylvania was signed into law on October 19, 2018. A 60-day mandatory pre-enforcement period was completed on March 4, 2020, and enforcement began on March 9, 2020.
Work Zone Speed Safety Camera systems are a vehicle or apparatus-based system that detects the speed of passing vehicles. When a vehicle is deemed to be traveling 11 miles per hour (mph) or higher over the posted speed limit, the system will capture images of the front and rear of the vehicle and related information (i.e. speed limit, speed, location, date, time, etc.). This record and set of images make up a violation. This violation is then transferred to a back-office system where registered owner information is then obtained. If the violation passes all necessary Quality Assurance and Quality Control checks, a notice of violation is produced and mailed to the registered owner. A first-time notice of violation will be a warning carrying no financial penalty. Second and subsequent warnings will carry a financial penalty in accordance with Title 75 C.S. 3369.
The Work Zone Speed Safety Camera systems are required by law to be recalibrated and recertified on an annual basis. The calibration and certification is valid for 365 days from the certification date. The systems run daily self-tests to ensure all aspects of the system are operating properly at the start and end of each enforcement period. Additionally, PSP may conduct random field speed verification to ensure the units are accurately detecting speeds.
The Work Zone Speed Safety Camera systems are located in work zones throughout the commonwealth. Work zones are selected by a data-driven process in order to maximize the effectiveness of the systems.
Work Zones that have a WZSSC system present and active will have unique signs in advance of the enforcement area, alerting drivers to the upcoming enforcement. These signs are in accordance with the requirements set forth in Title 75 C.S. 3369.
Here is an example of the WZSSC enforcement warning sign:
No. Per Title 75 C.S. 3369, you must be traveling 11 miles per hour (mph) or higher over the posted speed limit to receive a violation.
Yes. The WZSSC enforcement unit only deploys and enforces the speed in work zones with workers present. Workers operating behind barriers are also considered to be active within the work zone. In some situations, workers may not be visible to passing drivers due to their location and nature of work being performed.
Following several complaints, PennDOT reviewed the WZSSC deployment and discovered the work zone speed limit was incorrectly identified as 45 MPH. The speed limit in an adjacent work zone was lowered to 45mph, but the RC2 work zone remained at 55 MPH. As a result, all violations associated with WZSSC deployments on US-1 were rescinded, including warnings and fine carrying violations. Although there was an issue with the posted speed limit, all WZSSC enforcement units worked properly during the deployments. There were no issues with the annual calibrations of the enforcement vehicles used during this time period. See this PDF for more frequently asked questions related to the US-1 RC2 work zone.
Per Title 75 C.S. 3369, notices of violation shall be provided to a registered owner within 90 days of the violation occurring. In most cases, the notice of violation will be mailed shortly after the violation has occurred.
For a first violation, the notice carries no financial penalty and is a written warning. For a second violation, the notice carries a $75 fine. For third and all subsequent violations, the notice carries a $150 fine. These penalties are civil in nature, with no criminal implications. Points will not be assessed against your driver’s license for any Work Zone Speed Limit violations.
Payment instructions are included with your violation notice. Payments can be made by mail, by phone, online, or in person at the WZSSC program Customer Service Center.
If you do not pay the fine within the 90 days of the original violation notice, the fine may be turned over to a credit collections agency for payment.
All violation notices are reviewed before issuance. All warnings contested by the vehicle owner and all second and subsequent violations are reviewed and affirmed by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Revenue from the fines collected as part of the program will cover expenditures related to the program. In the event that all expenditures related to the program are covered and excess revenue remains, that excess revenue is used by PennDOT and the Turnpike Commission for improvement projects, enforcements, and countermeasures to improve safety in work zones and on highways
PennDOT pays a monthly fee to the System Administrator, along with an additional cost for each 8-hour deployment. There is no compensation or incentive based on the number of violations.
Yes. Instructions for contesting the violation appear on your notice of violation. Requests for contest may be made by mail, online, or in person.
Only the owner of a vehicle may contest the violation. For the purposes of the WZSSC program, the lessee of a leased vehicle shall be considered the owner of the motor vehicle.
Per Title 75 C.S. 3369, the person named in the notice of violation may claim that they were not driving the motor vehicle at the time of the violation. In order to file this defense, you must file a contest of your violation within the required timeframe and any supporting evidence to corroborate that the named person(s) was not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.
Hearings are only required if you are contesting your violation. Hearings are not required if you pay your fine or if you are not contesting your violation.
No. Images collected as part of this program are used only for the execution of this program. Per Title 75 C.S. 3369, images are to be destroyed within one year after a final disposition has been recorded for the subject violation, except in specific cases of court order.
The collection agency will contact you to arrange payment of the fine.
The speed display trailers are provided as an informational tool to motorists to make drivers aware of how fast they are going. They are entirely separate from and independent of the WZSSC program.
No. Violations under the WZSSC program are civil violations and do not affect your driving record.
No. Fine amounts under the WZSSC program are specified under the law. Violations under the WZSSC program are civil violations with no criminal implications and do not result in jail time.
The “Active Work Zone When Flashing” sign with a flashing white light is not affiliated with the WZSSC program and is not required for WZSSC enforcement to occur. The WZSSC program requires two “Active Speed Limit Photo Enforced” advance warning signs notifying motorists that WZSSC systems are present and active. The “Active Work Zone When Flashing” sign with a flashing white light indicates an active work zone as required for criminal violations, which are issued when a police officer stops you for a violation.
Per Title 75 C.S. 3369, the registered owner of the vehicle is liable for the violation.
To claim the defense that you were not the operator of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation, please see the FAQ “What if I wasn’t driving my car at the time of the violation? Am I still responsible for paying the fine?”
Per Title 75 C.S. 3369, the registered owner of the vehicle is liable for the violation.
To claim the defense that you were not the operator of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation, please see the FAQ “What if I wasn’t driving my car at the time of the violation? Am I still responsible for paying the fine?””
Title 75 C.S. 3369 establishes a 15-day warning period between the mail date of a first violation to the capture of a second violation. Upon expiration of the 15-day warning period, it is possible to incur multiple violations within a single day.
No. The driver of a leased, fleet or company vehicle is not the owner as defined by law. Only the owner of a vehicle may file to contest the Notice of Violation because liability for a violation belongs to the vehicle owner. Under the law, the leasing or fleet vehicle company would be the registered owner with the right to contest a violation.
Yes. Many work zones throughout Pennsylvania are managed by independent contractors. As private companies, these contractors are not required to adhere to state and federal holiday calendars. Workers may be present in any work zone at any time, even on holidays.
Yes. It is important to note that most cruise control systems only set a minimum speed and not a top speed. Even the new “intelligent” cruise control or speed monitor assist options rely on the use of in-vehicle cameras to “see” speed limit signs. Additionally, the WZSSC system undergoes yearly calibration and certification as well as testing before and after enforcement periods to ensure accuracy. The same cannot be said of cruise control systems in standard motor vehicles on the roadway. A motorist is always responsible for monitoring their speed. Therefore, the use of a cruise control device in a vehicle is not a defense to an WZSSC violation.
Yes. The posted speed limit in the work zone applies to all vehicles driving in that work zone. Any vehicle detected to be traveling 11 MPH or more above the posted speed limit can be identified as a violating vehicle, regardless of the presence of other vehicles in the area traveling at the same or similar speeds as the identified vehicle.
Yes. To appeal the decision of the Informal Hearing Officer, please file the documents listed on the online portal with the Magisterial District Judge that covers the location where the violation occurred. The appeal must be filed with the appropriate District Court within 45 days from the date of the determination of the hearing officer. In addition to filing the required documents with the appropriate District Court, you must also click the “Appeal Liable Determination” button in the online portal. Alternatively, you can email your request to customer.service@pawzse.com or call the customer service center at 1-800-390-7151.