Washington State to Impose Fines in Work Zones Starting July as Speed Camera Program Expands

This article reports on the first-year results of Washington State’s Work Zone Speed Camera Program, launched in April 2025 to improve safety in active construction, maintenance, and emergency work zones. The program began with one camera on Interstate 5 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord and has since expanded to six rotating cameras across 46 job sites in Western Washington, with plans to grow to 15 cameras statewide by 2027. Officials report a significant reduction in speeding, with violations dropping from 60% to 30% in monitored zones. During the first year, 65,000 infractions were issued, most of which were first-time warnings without financial penalties. Beginning July 1, 2026, first-time violations will carry a $125 fine. The article also addresses privacy safeguards, including restricted data access, blurred faces, and limits on data use for non-enforcement purposes. State officials emphasize that the program is designed to change driver behavior, reduce crashes, and protect roadway workers.