Massachusetts Work Zone Laws

How Massachusetts handles work zones

Massachusetts doubles your fine for speeding through a marked construction zone, and the trigger is the marked zone, not a visible worker (M.G.L. c.90 §17). A ticket that runs $150 for 20 over becomes about $300. Base speeding is $50 plus $10 per mph over 10, plus a head-injury and public-safety surcharge. Signs tell you fines double. Obey any officer or flagger on the detail; their direction controls the zone. The statewide hands-free law bans your handheld here.

Speed, fines, phone, and the flagger

• Speed rule: Obey the posted limit through any marked construction zone. The double fine keys off the marked zone, not on seeing a worker (M.G.L. c.90 §17).
• Fine multiplier: Doubled. A speeding or unreasonable-speed violation inside a marked construction zone carries twice the normal fine (M.G.L. c.90 §17). Signs post that fines double, so 20 mph over that runs $150 normally is about $300 in the zone.
• Phone in a work zone: Restricted — put it down
• Flagger authority: Obey the officer or flagger directing traffic in the zone; a police detail or flagger controlling traffic has the authority of a signal, and disregarding it is citable.
• Base fine: Base fine is $50 plus $10 for each mph above 10 over ($150 for 20 mph over), plus a $50 head-injury and $5 public-safety surcharge; the speeding fine doubles in a marked construction zone (about $300 for 20 over).

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