HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — State Troopers wrote more than two dozen tickets Monday as part of a new effort to enforce traffic laws in West Virginia work zones. “Operation Work Zone Safety: Danger Zone” took place on a stretch of Interstate 64 in Huntington.
State Police spokesman Lt. Michael Baylous said the Huntington enforcement was just the start. He said troopers will be showing up at other work zones across the state.
“We’re going to be watching for those who are exceeding the speed limit, distracted driving, anybody who is out here creating an unsafe environment not only for the workers in the zone but for the motorists for themselves and other motorists,” Baylous said.
A trooper dressed as a construction worker Monday and used a laser unit to clock the speed of motorists and then he radioed ahead to troopers who pulled over the drivers.
Baylous said it’s about safety not about creating a speed trap to generate revenue.
“This zone is clearly marked. So for anyone to say this is some type of speed trap revenue increasing operation–that has absolutely nothing to do with it,” Baylous said. “It’s clearly marked and we have troopers in the zone.”
Baylous added the State Police does not receive revenue from speeding tickets.
Last year State Police put troopers at the beginning at end of the work zone to catch motorists who speed up after they see the initial trooper. Officers said the older the work zone the more likely it is to have speeding motorists.
Troopers are working with state Department of Transportation on the work zone safety effort.