NC work zone bill would lower fines and increase hazards

It’s not even the end of the legislative session, when peculiar bills traditionally start to appear based on one lawmaker’s notions. Yet Republican Rep. Sarah Stevens has come up with a doozy of a bad idea.

In a bill that actually appeared to be moving quickly through the state House, Stevens would allow drivers who break posted speed limits in highway work zones at a time when no construction workers are present to escape the $250 fine. Stevens, of Surry County, apparently believes there is a “speed trap” set up in a work zone near her county, with the objective being to catch people she believes aren’t doing any harm.

But another Republican, Rep. Dean Arp of Union County, handed out copies of an obituary of a Department of Transportation worker who was killed in a Goldsboro work zone crash in March. Stevens dismissed the gesture, saying the worker was killed by an impaired driver who would face the consequences.

It’s simply bad law to exempt drivers from penalty when they ignore speed limits based on their own judgment that they’re not putting anyone at risk. By that logic, someone doing 100 miles per hour on a deserted Interstate could argue no one was around, so what’s the harm?

This idea is dangerous. Were it the topic of heated conversation in a bar or even a living room, it might be harmless. But Stevens is an elected representative charged with making judgment calls every day on law and ought to know better.

Arp noted that DOT cuts the speed limit and posts signs about the $250 tickets at only a fraction of work sites. And another representative said the speed limits weren’t just to protect workers. They also force people to slow down because there may be hazards at the construction sites such as obstacles close by the side of the road.

What a bad idea. Cooler heads need to bring this particular bit of foolishness to a halt.

This story was originally published April 26, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "NC work zone bill would lower fines and increase hazards."