Washington State Department of Transportation
Headquarters – 310 Maple Park Avenue – Olympia, WA 98504-7370 – 360-705-7000
MEDIA ADVISORY – Not for publication
Feb. 10, 2025
Contacts: Amy Moreno, communications, 206-532-3187 (mobile)
Chris Loftis, WSP communications, 360-485-3983
Work zone speed camera on its way to highway projects around the state
Lawmakers, WSDOT, WSP gather to demonstrate camera and safety technology before it hits the road
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Transportation and Washington State Patrol invite the media to see the state’s first work zone speed camera and learn about how it works. The safety program is part of a partnership that also includes the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Attorney General and the Department of Licensing. The Work Zone Speed Camera Program hopes to reduce speeding in active road construction, maintenance and emergency zones statewide.
Speeding is one of the leading causes of crashes in work zones, which threatens the lives of workers and the traveling public. A recent blog provides additional information about the need for the safety program.
Starting in late February, a work zone speed camera mounted on a trailer will rotate through active work zones across the state. Through scanning light detection and ranging, also referred to as LiDAR, the camera will detect vehicles traveling over the posted speed limit and take images of the vehicle, its license plate and related information (i.e. speed limit, speed, location, date, time, etc.). The information will go to WSP, which will review the images and data captured by the speed camera. If troopers determine a violation was committed, a notice of infraction will be mailed to the vehicle's registered owner within 30 days. The cameras will only record infractions when workers are present on a job site, and signs will be put in place to warn drivers when a camera is in a work zone.
When: Noon Wednesday, Feb. 12
Where: Washington State Patrol Headquarters, 106 11th Ave. SW, Olympia, WA 98501, ground floor conference room. Parking near the Capitol can be challenging when the legislature is in session. Spots may be available on the Capitol campus, or metered street parking can be found behind the building on Union Avenue Southwest or Columbia Street Southwest.
Speakers: Secretary of Transportation Julie Meredith, WSDOT
Sen. Marko Liias, chair, Senate Transportation Committee
Sen. Curtis King, Senate Transportation Committee
Rep. Jake Fey, chair, House Transportation Committee
Rep. Andrew Barkis, House Transportation Committee
Chief John R. Batiste, Washington State Patrol
Billy Wallace Jr, political director, Council of Laborers/USI Committee
Mallorie Davies, state regulatory and policy coordinator, Council of Laborers/USI Committee
Visuals: Work zone speed camera, signs that will be used when a camera is in an active work zone and an example of an infraction that will be mailed to those caught speeding in a work zone.
Hyperlinks within the release:
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WSDOT keeps people, businesses, and the economy moving by operating and improving the state's transportation systems. To learn more about what we're doing, go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/news for pictures, videos, news, and blogs. Real-time traffic information is available at wsdot.com/traffic.
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