Wisconsin Assembly passes highway worker safety bill

The Wisconsin Assembly on Thursday passed legislation to improve safety for highway maintenance workers. Roll call information on the vote was not available.

A.B. 151 would raise the penalties for certain traffic violations where highway maintenance workers are present. Under current law in Wisconsin, any fine is doubled where persons are working in a highway maintenance or construction area and are at risk from traffic.

The bill extends the highway maintenance or construction area from fines to include the roadway adjacent to the roadside where cleanup or maintenance work is being performed, and the area extends from the first advance warning sign to the furthest location at which cleanup or maintenance workers are working, and stipulates that fines apply whether the work is being performed by paid workers or volunteers.

The bill moved to the state’s Senate for consideration.