NY Officials Push for Stronger Highway Worker Safety Measures

Proposed legislation aims to reduce speeding in work zones and increase penalties for assaulting road crews.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:24am

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New York's Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez visited Plattsburgh on Thursday to call on lawmakers to support road safety provisions in the governor's budget. This includes installing speed cameras in work zones, which Dominguez says can reduce speeds by nearly 30% and prevent worker injuries. The state is also seeking tougher deterrents, such as classifying assaulting a highway worker as a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

Why it matters

Highway worker safety has become a growing concern in New York, with incidents of speeding vehicles and assaults on road crews. These proposed measures aim to crack down on dangerous driving behaviors and better protect the workers maintaining and repairing the state's infrastructure.

The details

Dominguez cited data showing no recorded worker injuries in work zones where speed cameras were present. The North Country region is also considering its own measures to address speeding in work zones. Additionally, the state is seeking to reclassify assaulting a highway worker from a misdemeanor to a felony charge in order to provide stronger legal deterrents.

  • On March 10, 2026, state police released bodycam video of a state trooper being hit by a car during a traffic stop in Duane.
  • On March 12, 2026, Dominguez visited Plattsburgh to discuss the proposed safety measures.

The players

Marie Therese Dominguez

The Commissioner of the New York Department of Transportation who is advocating for the new safety measures.

Karl Weiss

The Clinton County Highway Superintendent who says they have seen increased speeding in work zones, which is a major concern.

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What they’re saying

“We have not seen a recorded injury in a work zone when a camera was present.”

— Marie Therese Dominguez, DOT Commissioner (921wvtk.com)

“We set up our work zones to do our maintenance work. We have seen traffic drive through at higher rates of speed, which is definitely concerning.”

— Karl Weiss, Clinton County Highway Superintendent (921wvtk.com)

What’s next

The proposed legislation, including the speed camera and felony assault provisions, will now go before state lawmakers for consideration and potential approval.

The takeaway

These new safety measures reflect the growing urgency to protect highway workers in New York, who face increasing risks from speeding vehicles and assaults. If enacted, the legislation could serve as a model for other states looking to enhance protections for road crews maintaining critical infrastructure.