Bill > A00750

This bill enhances highway worker safety by establishing new legal provisions and penalties for drivers who endanger workers in work zones. Specifically, the bill creates a new legal offense called "endangerment of a highway worker" which applies when drivers improperly navigate through work areas, such as driving in unauthorized lanes or failing to obey traffic control devices. The penalties are graduated based on the severity of potential worker injury: fines range from $500-$1,000 for no injury, $1,000-$2,000 for physical injury, and $2,000-$5,000 for serious physical injury. Importantly, these fines are mandatory and cannot be reduced. The bill also establishes a new Work Zone Safety Fund, which will receive 60% of the collected fines, to be used for work zone safety enforcement, markings, speed display signs, and police monitoring. Additionally, the legislation requires the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee to develop a public education program to increase motorist awareness about highway work zone safety. The bill broadens the definition of a "work area" and a "highway worker" to provide more comprehensive protection, and mandates increased safety measures like police presence and radar speed display signs in major active work zones. The new provisions will take effect 90 days after becoming law.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A750