BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tommy of Buffalo admits he was speeding this month on the 198. He knows it is why he got a $50 ticket.
"Yes, I was speeding. If you don't speed going down the 198 in certain situations, you will get ran down. I bet you about 10 other people got speeding tickets along with me, which I was wrong. I shouldn't been speeding through the work zone and respect the workers," he said.
His ticket clocked him going 45 mph in the 30 mph zone where construction was also underway.
Tommy wants signs that are "unobstructed" in place to ensure drivers are aware of the speed limit and that there is a camera.
New York is enforcing the automated speed zone program.
According to Susan Surdej, assistant regional director for the NYS department of transportation, "nothing is more important to the Department of Transportation than the safety of our workers, and an important tool in we utilize to protect our workers is the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement Program. Since work started in the spring, Automated Work Zone cameras have been intermittently set up along the Scajaquada Expressway while crews perform bridge repairs. The posted speed limit along the Scajaquada under normal circumstances is 30 miles per hour, and that remains unchanged within our work zone."
She said in a statement "During this time, our cameras have recorded thousands of motorists speeding through our work zones, including incomprehensible speeds of more than 70 miles per hour 15 times and 80 miles per hour five times. This is completely unacceptable driver behavior that puts our workers at risk on the job. The Department of Transportation is not in the gotcha business – we are in the safety business – and we will continue to do everything in our power to keep our workers safe. Motorists need to slow down, pay attention and do their part to maintain a safe roadway system."
Shandra Thompson received two speeding tickets. She uses the expressway to visit her grandmother and says it is tough to do 30 mph.
"I understand something tragic happened with that area, but the decrease in speed is so fast. It's a lot when you're in traffic. If you're not doing at least 40, you're getting souped-up," said Thompson.
She plans to fight her ticket.