With road construction season soon upon us,
local residents are reminded that the fines for being caught speeding in
construction zones are doubling as of March 31, 2006.
Police and other groups
are supporting a call for the reinstatement of photo radar to protect road
crews from speeding drivers as the provinces gets set to double fines next
week.
Newly appointed Ontario
Road Builders' Association president Terry Willms says while fines double
effective March 31 for those caught speeding through road construction
zones, it's almost impossible to enforce because it's too dangerous for
cruisers to pursue the cars in work areas.
"It works in
Manitoba
," said Willms, who represents the
province's 102 contractors and 85 associate members who build, repair and
maintain the province's networks of roads and highways.
"They use photo radar
in construction zones, school zones and at some intersections."
Many people oppose photo radar, however, it is being promoted as the
best solution for construction zone safety. This is one of those
situations where photo radar may just make the roads safer, especially for
construction workers.
On March 31, amendments to
the Highway Traffic Act under Bill 169, the Transportation Statute Law
Amendment Act, 2005, will take effect, including doubling fines for
speeding in construction zones and creating a new offence for disobeying a
traffic control person with a three-demerit point penalty. Fines and
ranges generally are also changing across the board.
As such, the fines for
being one to 19 kilometres an hour over the posted limit in a construction
zone are double the going rate at $6 per kilometre, and for 20 km/h to 30
km/h are $9 per kilometre and it increases to $14 per kilometre for up to
49 km/h over the limit. For those caught doing 50 km/h over the posted
limit in a zone, it's going to cost $19.50 per kilometre.
A $5 court fee and the
Victims of Crime surcharge are always extra, the latter increasing with
the fine while demerit points also apply.
There has also been the
creation of a new middle speeding bracket to 20 km/h to 29 km/h from the
original 20 km/h to 34 km/h over the limit. Now, getting caught between 30
km/h and 34 km/h will cost $7 per kilometre instead of the $3.75 it used
to cost because it's been lumped into the new bracket of 30 km/h to 49
km/h. The fine is doubled in a construction zone.
Drivers must also remember that a new law
that demands that you slow to 60 km/h when travelling through a
construction zone or passing emergency vehicles — police, fire,
ambulance and tow trucks — when their lights are flashing. There is no
need to post speed limit signs. The law states that you must slow down to
60 km per hour.
Construction season is upon us. Drive
carefully or be prepared to pay the price.