Senate keeps higher work‑zone fines tied to worker presence and passes bill unanimously
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Summary
The Senate adopted an amendment that makes increased fines in highway work zones applicable only when a worker is present, saying the change targets worker safety; the amended bill passed on a recorded vote of 34–0 and was sent back to the House.
The West Virginia Senate on third reading adopted a strike-and-insert amendment that preserves existing fines but applies proposed higher penalties for drivers only when a worker is present in highway construction or maintenance work zones, and then passed the amended bill by a recorded machine vote of 34–0.
The Senior Senator from the Sixth, who offered the amendment, told colleagues the change keeps current fines intact but activates higher penalties—using the House’s proposed increases—only when workers are present, making enforcement squarely about protecting workers on site. The Senator from Jefferson praised the chair’s language on the floor and urged adoption, calling the amendment ‘‘much better language’’ that he would support if adopted.
On the machine vote the clerk reported 34 yays, 0 nays and the presiding officer declared the bill passed; a title amendment was adopted before the Senate instructed the clerk to transmit the action to the House.
The bill as amended applies higher fines only in circumstances where a worker is present in the work zone; the floor discussion framed the change as a targeted safety measure rather than an across-the-board penalty increase.