Implementing Act 229 of 2002 in Construction, Maintenance & Utility Project

The purpose of Act 229 is to improve work zone safety by requiring headlights in work zones, erecting signs at the beginning and end of all”active work zones,” increasing penalties for moving violations in the”active work zones,” and reducing work zone restrictions. An active work zone is the portion of a work zone where construction, maintenance or utility workers are on the roadway or on the shoulder of the highway, and it is adjacent to an open travel lane. A work zone is not active if no workers are on the roadway or shoulder, or all workers are protected by a concrete barrier and no ingress or egress to the work area is through an opening in the barrier. The motorist penalties in “signed” active work zones are doubled fines, eliminated speed tolerances (can now be cited for 1 mph over speed limit,) a 15-day license suspension if convicted of traveling 11 mph over speed limit, and up to 5 years additional jail time if convicted of homicide by vehicle. Act 229 technically applies in all construction, maintenance & utility projects.