[VIDEO] Operation Hardhat Helps Keep Construction Workers Safe

The New York State Police and the Department of Transportation joined up to continue "Operation Hardhat," an effort to crack down on work zone violations and highlight the importance of safe driving through active construction and maintenance work zones

The State Department of Transportation recently launched a new public service announcement highlighting the importance of moving over in construction work zones across the state.

Through "Operation Hardhat" troopers set up along the Northway with one in a DOT pickup truck and a laser to measure speeders or spot cell phone violations. Then he radios ahead to other troopers. They're enforcing work zone speed limits and on the lookout for violators of the state's Move Over Law, which applies to emergency and work vehicles.


When done in Rochester last week, "Hardhat" netted 112 tickets for a host of violations, including speeding, use of a cell phone while driving and failure to obey a flagger.

According to DOT & NYSP, fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone, and in accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual's driver license.

Latest