Central New York drivers passing through New York State Department of Transportation work zones have probably seen signs or received alerts on the mobile app about cameras checking your speed. I-81 project director Betsy Parmley said the northbound lanes of the highway coming into the city are a prime location to slow drivers down and protect workers.
“For example, this is I-81, high speed. So we certainly want to put it in places where there's high speeds," she said. "We also try to find spots where maybe they're not protected by that concrete barrier and it's just barrels. They're even more vulnerable, so we'll put it in those places.”
Parmley said there also has to be enough space in the work zone to position the extra signs and vehicle.
She said warning drivers, rather than secretly monitoring them, proves a point.
“We're not hiding anything. This is transparent, but yet people are still speeding through," Parmley said. "So people need to slow down in our work zones. Simple as that.”
Last year, DOT data show the cameras caught more than 50,000 speeders in the DOT’s region which includes Syracuse. Drivers receive citations starting at $50 dollars for a first offense and more for subsequent offenses. They’re regarded as fines, not violations, so they will not add points to your license.
Drivers can stay up to date on all I-81 related lane closures, speed cameras, and other work zones with the I-81-Connect app.
