Washington to ramp up fines for work zone speeding beginning July 1
By Dan Thesman on Monday, June 29th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
OLYMPIA — Washington drivers caught speeding through highway construction zones will soon face a steeper penalty for their first offense, as enforcement from the Washington State Patrol moves from warnings to active fines to protect road crews.
Beginning July 1, a first-time violation caught by the state’s Work Zone Speed Camera Program will carry a $125 fine, replacing the previous $0 warning system. Penalties for second and all subsequent infractions will remain at $248.
The policy shift, approved by the Washington Legislature last year, comes after more than a year of trying to alter driver behavior through warnings. Since the program’s launch on April 16, 2025, automated cameras have been deployed more than 900 times across roughly 50 job sites statewide. Officials say the system has issued 85,000 total speed infractions, with 77,000 of those going to first-time offenders.
State officials emphasized that the program is aimed at safety, not generating revenue. Cameras are regularly rotated through different work zones to encourage drivers to slow down. Initially launched on Interstate 5 near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the program recently expanded into eastern Washington. The state plans to have 15 cameras in operation by 2027.
The automated systems only record speeding vehicles when work crews are present, though officials warn that zones can be active during both day and night. Every potential violation is reviewed by a Washington State Patrol trooper before an infraction notice is mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner within 30 days. Owners can contest or pay fines online.
Top photo courtesy Washington State Department of Transportation. Left: A work zone speed camera. Right: A traffic sign identifying a photo-enforced speed zone.
