‘Work Zone’ Speeding Ticket Dismissed
This afternoon was my court date for the speeding ticket I received on November 4th in an unmarked ‘work zone’ (see post). In short, I got a ticket for doing 56 mph in a 45 mph work zone on I-55 which is normally 60 mph. When I got to the judge I didn’t have to say anything:
“I’m dismissing the ticket. I’ve got 35 pictures here from others showing the work zone was not marked.”
Cool, I thought. I was glad that I didn’t just pay the fine and I’m also glad I didn’t pay an attorney to plead the case to some lesser charge. But then I thought about all the people, like myself, that were inconvenienced as well as the burden to the city courts. I think the contractor that was hired by MoDot to resurface this portion of I-55 should pay a fine to the city to cover these costs.
Since worker safety is the ultimate goal of having work zone laws, I think this situation needs to be investigated to determine why this particular work zone (which is still ongoing) is not properly marked as such. Laws requiring contractors to post reduced speed limits are either missing or lax or it could be that MoDot just doesn’t enforce the rules. If this contractor didn’t follow the rules then they should pay some fines to a fund to help the families of road workers killed or injured on duty.
– Steve
I drive 55 to get to work when I work in Arnold 🙁 (Work in the city and Arnold). I noticed the day after your post that they started putting up the signs warning of the tickets the day after you made the initial post. Looks like they learned their lesson. Although you should have known better, if the rules aren’t followed, the ticket shouldn’t count.
[REPLY – That day they had the warning sign at the start of the construction (Arsenal) as well as a couple of times south of River Des Peres. As far as knowing better, I litterally got pulled over almost as soon as I got on the highway. It happened that quickly. It was 8:15am and the guys were just starting to put the orange things out to close the center (left) lane. I had just entered the highway in the far right lane heading South in the AM — against the major flow of traffic. I almost never go that way. – SLP]
My daily Interstate 55 commute takes me from the Virginia Avenue/Bates Street ramps to South County. Normally I benefit from driving against the flow, but my commute has been unpredictable and often irritating since the I-55 construction began.
I managed to escape what initially seemed like an overzealous enforcement of the work zone speed limit. Interestingly, I rarely see police or highway patrol cars in the area now. But I’m still annoyed by the ramp closures and the lack of proper notice.
On my way home from work, I usually exit at Virginia Avenue, the closest exit to my house. Repeatedly that ramp has been closed, and I never saw any signs indicating this closure along Interstate 55 as I entered the city. Sometimes I’ve driven to the southbound Virginia Avenue on-ramp in the morning only to find it closed, but at least then I can take Virginia and Alabama avenues to get to South County.
Usually some signs are posted miles ahead of the construction indicating ramp and lane closures. I don’t know if MoDOT or the contractor is responsible for the frequent lack of signs, but at any rate it is an annoyance and a disappointment.
Also, I’m wondering how long it’ll take to finish this project. As it is now, the road conditions aren’t that much better. I thought MoDOT was supposed to be more accountable for their work now- but it looks like they have a long way to go.