House Transportation reviews Act 135 pilot for automated enforcement in highway work zones

Montpelier — Members of the Vermont House Committee on Transportation on April 16 reviewed the implementation challenges of Act 135 of 2024 (S.184), a time-limited pilot authorizing automated traffic law enforcement (ATLE) systems in limited-access highway work zones to improve crew safety and reduce crashes.

Ben Novogrovsky, legal analyst at the Office of Legislative Council, told the committee the statute allows the Agency of Transportation (AOT) to contract with a vendor to operate radar‑triggered cameras that only activate when a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit by 10 miles per hour. "The overall purpose of the statute was to improve work crew safety and reduce traffic crashes in limited access highway work zones," Novogrovsky said.

The nut graf: Committee members heard that the law is narrowly written — three pilot sites, operation only in designated work zones when workers are present, sign-posting and data‑retention limits — but law‑enforcement capacity, vendor contracting and privacy concerns have delayed full implementation.

Supporters from the construction industry told the committee they back the pilot but urged a practical rollout. "This is about saving lives," Sarah Mierhoff, director of advocacy and communications for the Associated General Contractors of Vermont, said in support of the law. Kellen Cloud, director of operations for Green Mountain Flagging, described…