Protecting our highway workers
2024-04-23
Dear friend,
Happy Tuesday! What's new in your world this week? In my world, Alison passed the 6-month mark on her pregnancy, so we are eagerly looking forward to early August.
I'm continuing to hear from residents on S.258, so keep those emails coming. And I appreciate everyone who has written our senators to support H.121 (see Please - help me help you protect our data privacy).
One bill I'm looking forward here in Montpelier for the third-to-last week of the session (if we stick to our schedule) is one that would protect road workers -- S.184: An act relating to the temporary use of automated traffic law enforcement (ATLE) systems.
We've all seen inattentive, reckless, and intoxicated drivers out on our roads. For many Vermonters, that's their workplace. Highway work zones are dangerous. Vermont is not immune to crashes that have caused death or serious injury to flaggers, workers, and the public.
We don't have enough law enforcement officers to monitor all our construction zones. In Halifax, we've tossed around the idea of putting dash cams in our trucks to protect our workers. On our interstate highways, the Legislature is looking at piloting the use of Automated Traffic Law Enforcement (ATLE).
ATLEs are cameras that can record vehicle speed. If the vehicle is over the posted speed limit, the camera can provide the evidence necessary to issue a traffic ticket.
No one likes to be watched or ticketed by anyone, let alone cameras. But with this tool available and proven, is it responsible to our essential highway workers to do nothing?
In writing S.184, the Legislature copies a pilot that recently ran in Connecticut, and incorporates similar controls as those found in New York and Pennsylvania:
The bill would authorize a limited test program of about 18 months.
ATLEs would be tested in three construction work zones located on restricted access highways.
The goal is not to issue tickets. The goal is to get drivers to slow down. Accordingly, test sites will have clear signage alerting drivers camera enforcement in use.
The cameras photograph only the back license plate -- not drivers.
Data collected for this purpose will be used only to identify the vehicle in violation (rear license plate) along with the necessary information to verify the violation (speed, location, time of day, etc.). Data is tightly controlled, cannot be shared with any other entity, and will be permanently deleted after the conclusion of the any civil action.
Only law enforcement officers can issue tickets after they have reviewed and certified the violation.
The first offense is only a written warning. Further offenses will include fines. Offenses will not cause “points” on a license or be shared with insurance companies.
The pilot is not for use in municipalities, school zones or any other throughway.
There will be a report back on the efficacy of the pilot program in reducing speeds along with recommendations on program improvements.
The prospect of adding new traffic penalties and new law enforcement capability got some of the advocacy groups out there interested. One group, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), supports S.184.
They told our committees that the narrow use of the ATLE technology and clear identified work zones provided appropriate balance between personal liberties and the public need to reduce work zone accidents. Identifying speeding vehicles by their license plate removes issues associated with personal freedom or inappropriate surveillance oversight.
Similarly, Vermont has an Office of Racial Equity that reviews proposed legislation like this from a bias point of view. They support this narrow use of ATLE technology in removing any racial or personal bias in decisions on violations. The locations of the pilot sites will also eliminate possible bias in site location decisions.
S.184 passed the Senate and we will soon be voting on it in the House. While I don't like adding more video surveillance, I care very much about road workers and believe they deserve all the protection they can get.
Questions? Concerns? Please let me know.
***
Of course, you can always avoid ATLEs by traveling via witch's broom. Here's a balsam fir "witches broom" that came down from a tree here in the last storm.
Balsam fir witch's broom.
Judging by the shavings and leaves nested inside of it, this one was also the warm home of some squirrels at one time.
These growths on fir branches are caused by a fungus that has multiple life stages. It grows on fir and then spores are transmitted to chickweed. Then more spores grow on the chickweed and are transmitted to the fir tree.
Isn't nature neat?
warm regards,
Rep. Tristan Roberts
Vermont House of Representatives
P.S. Did you also know that I host a podcast, the Quill Nook Experience?
The newest episode is: Daniel Kish - Blindness Does Not Define a Person. Please enjoy it wherever you get podcasts, and please subscribe. Have a great rest of your day!