In Wilkes-Barre, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike), in partnership with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), have begun implementing the statewide Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program this week.
The initial five-year trial program, previously called Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement, became permanent when House Bill 1284 was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro on Dec. 14.
Act 38 of 2023 confirmed Shapiro’s commitment to public safety and expanded on his promise to ensure the safety of all Pennsylvanians, including on the roads.
During the five-year pilot program, there was a 38% decrease in speeding in work zones (1 mph or more over the speed limit), a 47% decrease in excessive speeding in work zones (11 mph or more over the speed limit), and work zone crashes reduced by up to 50% when a speed enforcement vehicle was present.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll said, “The Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program aims to make work zones safer for workers and drivers by reducing speeds and altering driver behavior. The pilot program data shows it was effective, and we are glad that it is now a permanent program in Pennsylvania.”
The new legislation, effective Feb. 15, 2024, made several adjustments, including a 15-day warning period from the mail date of the first violation. If a driver is caught speeding in a work zone by Work Zone Speed Safety Cameras, they will not receive a second violation until 15 days after the mail date of their first violation. This allows time for the warning to be delivered to the driver to ensure they are aware of the program and change their driving behavior. After the 15-day warning period, multiple violations can be received on consecutive days, and even on the same day.
Under the new legislation, all violations are reset, meaning every driver will start over with a first violation, even if they had received violations under the pilot program. Violations that were issued before Feb. 15, 2024, during the pilot program are still valid and will continue to be pursued.
Work zones with speed safety cameras have signs posted in advance of the enforcement area.
Pennsylvania’s Work Zone Speed Safety Camera program utilizes vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record drivers exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices. Camera systems are operational only in active work zones where workers are present.
For a first offense, registered owners will receive a warning letter, for a second offense, a violation notice with a $75 fine, and for a third and subsequent offenses, a violation notice with a $150 fine. These violations are civil penalties only — they will not result in points being added to driver’s licenses.
PA Turnpike Chief Operating Officer Craig Shuey explained, “Speed safety cameras are important for deterring drivers from exceeding posted speeds. Paying attention and reducing speed are crucial as drivers approach a work zone where workers are inches from live traffic. The goal of this program is to raise awareness and, most importantly, to change unsafe driving behavior.”
Shuey stated that the test program showed that even the first warning causes a change in behavior because less than 17% of people offended again. Also, he said the program reminds drivers that safety is in their hands when they are driving.
“Many injuries and deaths in work areas can be avoided if drivers simply reduce speed, and that's the aim of this program,” said Pennsylvania State Police Director of the Bureau of Patrol Major Robert Krol. “The cameras have been successful in making our work areas safer, and we look forward to seeing more results from the full-time implementation of the program.”
In 2022, there were 1,293 accidents in Pennsylvania work zones, resulting in 14 deaths, and 42% of work zone accidents led to deaths and/or injuries.
Since 1970, PennDOT has lost 90 workers on duty. The PA Turnpike has lost 45 workers since 1945.
Rep. Meuser votes for legislation
that ensures illegal immigrants
charged with crimes be detained
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, this week voted in favor of H.R. 7511 — the Laken Riley Act — to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure illegal immigrants charged with a crime are detained by federal immigration authorities and not released into the public where they can go on to harm innocent Americans.
Meuser said this legislation was written in response to the tragic murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, who was murdered by a Venezuelan national in the United States illegally.
The individual in question, Jose Antonio Ibarra, unlawfully entered the U.S. in 2022 and was released into the country. After his release Ibarra traveled to New York where he was arrested for driving infractions among other charges. Mere months before allegedly murdering Laken Riley, Meuser said Ibarra was arrested for theft, but local authorities in Georgia released him.
The Laken Riley Act would mandate ICE detention for illegal aliens who are charged with, convicted of, arrested for, admit having committed, or admit committing acts that constitute the essential elements of any burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting offense.
H.R. 7511 further requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue a detainer for these illegal immigrants and take custody of them “effectively and expeditiously.”
“Laken Riley symbolizes the aspirations of countless young women striving to fulfill their dreams — graduating from college, pursuing a career in nursing, and enjoying her time with loved ones,” Meuser said. “However, tragically, due flawed border policies, her life has been prematurely cut short. We cannot allow more promising futures and innocent lives to be shattered due to the chaos at our border. It is essential that to protect our youth and all American lives — we must detain illegal immigrant criminals to prevent further tragedies. I strongly urge my colleagues to rally behind this crucial legislation.”
H.R. 7511 passed the House of Representatives 251-170, and was referred to the Senate for further consideration.
Pa. announces $3M investment
to combat hunger by decreasing food
waste and assisting apple growers
A $1 million state investment is being used to convert surplus Pennsylvania apples into apple sauce and apple juice to provide food for hungry families across the state, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Feeding Pennsylvania CEO Julie Bancroft announced this week.
The Shapiro Administration invested $1 million of Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) funds and $2 million of federal funds to offer apple growers a practical solution for dealing with a surplus of apples.
“Pennsylvania apple growers had a successful year in 2023,” Redding said. “When they approached the department for a solution last autumn, we utilized existing partnerships within the apple industry and Feeding Pennsylvania’s network. We allocated the $1 million increase in the PASS program's budget for 2023-24 to ensure that nutritious Pennsylvania apple products reach the tables of hungry Pennsylvania families.”
PASS is an innovative program that reimburses farmers and agribusinesses for the expenses of harvesting, processing, packaging, and transporting surplus food. Donated food is distributed through a partnership with Feeding Pennsylvania’s network of food banks and pantries, reducing food waste and addressing hunger, while also supporting Pennsylvania agriculture. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, PASS distributed over four million pounds of food, and it is set to distribute over five million pounds in 2023-24.
According to Feeding America, more than 1.2 million Pennsylvanians, including over 325,000 children, are experiencing hunger, equating to one in eight Pennsylvania kids facing hunger.
“Apples are already the leading fresh fruit in the PASS program,” Bancroft said. “This collaborative processing project demonstrates the responsiveness of PASS to Pennsylvania’s agricultural community and charitable food network.”
Pennsylvania is the fourth largest apple producer in the country and is home to major processing companies like grower-owned Knouse Foods, one of the largest food processors in the nation.
The Administration also allocated $2 million of the $6.8 million in federal funds received by the Agriculture Department in 2023-24 through USDA’s Local Food for Local Schools Cooperative Agreement Program to address this challenge.
This investment will cover sliced apples and apple sauce destined for schools in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Nutritious Pennsylvania-grown apples will be available to students who are now receiving universal free breakfast for the first time under the Shapiro Administration.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget designates $3 million to help reduce food insecurity, bolster the Senior Food Box Program, and strengthen PASS.
