Fine for Speeding in Work Zone in Virginia

February 16, 2022 by Jean Humbrecht

Speeding in Virginia can result in a fine in addition to other penalties.  There are increased fines for speeding in highway work zones, school zones, and residential districts.  This post focuses on the fine for speeding in work zone in Virginia.

For information on the other penalties that result from speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia, click here.

Fine for Speeding in Work Zone in Virginia
fine for speeding in work zone in Virginia

Fine for Speeding in Work Zone in Virginia Can be up to $500

The fine for speeding in Virginia is usually $6 for every mile per hour over the speed limit the offender was driving.  However, speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia is punished with a higher fine.  This fine is $7 for every mile per hour over the speed limit and can be as high as $500.

The increased fine applies if a driver is speeding in a highway work zone when workers are present.  The highway work zone must be marked with signs displaying the speed limit and the penalties for speeding.  For information on what is considered a highway work zone in Virginia, click here.

The fine for speeding in a work zone in Virginia can be prepaid without going to court.  However, pre-paying the fine is an admission of guilt and as a result the driver will have a conviction for speeding on his Virginia driving record for 5 years.

Statutes Outlining Fine for Speeding in Work Zone in Virginia
Fine for Speeding in Work Zone in Virginia

§46.2-878.1. Maximum speed limits in highway work zones; penalty.

Operation of any motor vehicle in excess of a maximum speed limit established specifically for a highway work zone, when workers are present and when such highway work zone is indicated by appropriately placed signs displaying the maximum speed limit and the penalty for violations, shall be unlawful and constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $500.  For the purposes of this section, “highway work zone” means a construction or maintenance area that is located on or beside a highway and marked by appropriate warning signs and, for projects covered by contracts entered into on or after July 1, 2012, with attached flashing lights or other traffic control devices indicating that work is in progress.  Nothing in this section shall preclude the prosecution or conviction for reckless driving of any motor vehicle operator whose operation of any motor vehicle in a highway work zone, apart from speed, demonstrates a reckless disregard for life, limb, or property.

Pre-Payment of Fine for Speeding in Work Zone in Virginia

§46.2-878.3. Prepayment of fines for violations of speed limits.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Traffic Infractions and Uniform Fine Schedule adopted by the Supreme Court for prepayment of fines shall, in all instances where prepayment of a fine is permitted, include a fine of $6 per mile-per-hour in excess of posted speed limits provided for in this article. However, such Traffic Infractions and Uniform Fine Schedule shall include a fine of $7 per mile-per-hour in excess of posted speed limits for a violation of §§46.2-873 and 46.2-878.1 and $8 per mile-per-hour in excess of posted speed limits for a violation of §46.2-878.2.

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