In Nevada, speeding in a work zone can be very dangerous for both the driver and the workers that may be working in the street. According to Nevada Statute NRS 484B.130, it is illegal for drivers to speed in a work zone, and fines for doing so will be doubled. If you have a clean driving record, it may be possible to have your speeding ticket reduced to a non-moving violation, although every case is different. A person who violates this speeding law or any other traffic violations in a work zone may receive extra fines and even potential jail time.
Laws for Speeding in a Work Zone
Speeding in a construction zone is illegal in the State of Nevada. If you get caught speeding in a work zone, it is an added penalty on top of the speeding charge itself. In order for an area of the road to become a construction zone, there must be three things on the road.
- A sign located before the beginning of an area stating “DOUBLE PENALTIES IN WORK ZONES” to identify for drivers that it is a work zone and the double penalty may be imposed.
- A sign to show the beginning of the temporary work zone.
- A sign to show the end of the temporary work zone.
Additionally, the Nevada Law has extra penalties for speeding in a “temporary traffic zone,” which has different requirements than a work zone. Temporary traffic zones are pursuant to an emergency resulting from a natural disaster threatening the public, or on a public highway where the temporary posted speed limit is 25 mph or less. Although temporary traffic zones and work zones are a bit different, the same signs should be posted in the temporary zone to inform drivers of the conditions.
Fighting a Speeding in a Work Zone Charge
Most traffic ticket disputes end fairly quickly, and most defendants do not try to aggressively fight the charge, although it is possible to fight it and win. If you do try to fight your ticket because you believe you can win, there are two common defenses to fight speeding in a work zone.
- No work area – The road did not have the proper signs stating that it was a work zone, which is mandated by the law.
- No speeding – The law enforcement officer’s radar gun may have been malfunctioning, or that the speed limit posted was higher than the limit that the defendant was going and the police officer made a mistake.
If you do wish to fight a ticket and use one of these defenses, it is important that there is evidence or eyewitness testimony to help build a strong defense. You can never have too much evidence, as the more evidence you have, the higher chance you have to get your speeding ticket turned around.
Penalties for Speeding in a Work Zone
The fine for speeding in a work zone is usually doubled from a regular speeding ticket fine. For example, if your speeding ticket was $205, it would be $410 if it was in a designated work zone. If the speeding is charged as a crime, the penalty can only be up to $1,000 in fines, 6 months in jail at most, or up to 120 hours of community service. If the speeding is charged as a civil infraction, the additional penalty for being in a work zone cannot exceed $250. Also, it is very likely that your speeding ticket can get reduced to a non-moving violation, or even erased. You have a greater chance of getting your speeding ticket reduced if you have a lawyer and you have a clean driving record. You will also receive demerit points on your driver’s license for receiving a speeding ticket.
Speeding, especially in a work zone, can be very detrimental to the driver and the workers on the road. The Nevada law does not take speeding lightly, as it shows the negligence of a driver because speeding can cause harm to everyone on the road. If you or a loved one has been involved in a speeding case and believe you were not speeding, reach out to a trusted legal team for help. At Ticket Busters, our experienced attorneys have had many years dealing with fighting speeding tickets and will aggressively fight the ticket by your side.
