Question: When I drive into a construction zone I see the sign about double the fine, but have been told that the fine incurred is actually excessive speed if the speed is too high. Is there an actual regulation about double the fine or is this sign just a deterrent?
Construction Zone Offence
Speeding in a construction zone is an offence under section 140 of the Motor Vehicle Act:
140 Where traffic control devices as indicated in section 138 or 139 are erected or placed on the highway, a person must not drive or operate a vehicle at a greater rate of speed than, or in a manner different from, that indicated on the signs.
Fine Amounts Set by Regulation
The amount of the fine is actually set in the Violation Ticket Administration and Fines Regulation in Schedule 3.
The schedule sets a fine amount of $170 if the speed is in excess of the limit but not more than 20 km/h over the limit. If the speed is over by 21 to 40 km/h the fine amount of $220 applies. This results in a ticketed amount of $196 and $253 respectively once the Victim Surcharge Levy is added.
Similarly, the fine amounts for "regular" speeding are $120 and $170, with the ticketed amounts being $138 and $196.
The Fines Are Not Double
No matter how I do the math, the construction zone speed fines are not double, although they may have been when these rules were first brought into effect.
Excessive Speed
Once you exceed the threshold of 40 km/h over the speed limit, the excessive speeding rules apply equally to all types of speed zones.
Speed in a Construction Zone is a Problem
Road Safety at Work says that according to WorkSafeBC statistics, 9 roadside workers were hit by a vehicle and killed in BC from 2014 through 2023. Another 251 people were injured seriously enough to miss work. Drivers and their passengers were also hurt.
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