Donnie Johnson has spent the last 15 years in construction.

“I’ve been [in the area] for 27 years and to see the difference from ’83, I just love it,” the PennDOT Highway Foreman told CBS 21 News’ Samantha York.

But one thing, he says, hasn’t changed: Drivers speeding through work zones.

“Upsets me to see that they don’t care,” Johnson said.

It upset the state legislature, too. In 2018, there were over 1,800 work zone crashes in Pennsylvania.

“Just unsafe,” added Johnson.

That same year, lawmakers passed a bill with the goal of protecting crews.

“For the most part, we don’t have anyone slowing down or taking heed to us being out there,” Johnson continued.

The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program rolled out in March 2020, adding cameras to work zones on state highways and the turnpike.

“We’re using them in areas where we cannot really have an officer sitting or safely pull somebody over,” PennDOT Spokesperson Fritzi Schreffler explained.

“Our troopers generally work within a work zone and up to two miles in advance of it to try to slow down motorists,” Pennsylvania State Police Bureau Patrol Director Major Robert Krol said.

A vehicle going 11 miles per hour or more over the speed limit through an active work zone is picked up on radar and caught on camera.

“Ahead of that, there’s two signs letting you know that there is photo speed enforcement going on,” Schreffler added.

The system compiles a violation, recording the time, location and date.

“They process those images through quality control and then put them in the queue for the Pennsylvania State Police to Review,” Major Krol added.

He oversees Pennsylvania State Police’s newly created Automated Enforcement Unit.

“If everything matches up, then they approve the violation and the vendor sends that out,” Major Krol added.

Since the pilot program began, 7,920 cameras have been deployed, according to PennDOT data from Aug. 2022. 963,756 citations have been issued in that same time period.

“They’re ignoring the signs that say that there’s speed enforcement going on,” Schreffler added.

More than 80% are first violations, which results in a warning. 11% are second offenders, where the car owner is mailed a $75 civil fine without points. Roughly 5% of drivers who have been issued citations have been cited at least three times, resulting in a $150 fine each.

“Slow down and think about us,” Johnson said.

In 2020, nearly 220,000 warnings and tickets were issued in construction zones. Crashes decreased by 19%, while fatalities were down 6%. Violations climbed up to 425,000 in 2021 when more drivers returned to the roads from the pandemic but the program data shows speeding in enforced work zones was reduced to 20% of all traffic that same year.

“Our crews are reporting to us that they are seeing a reduction in the speeds, there’s a reduction in the number of incidents that are happening,” Schreffler said.

“No matter what, a camera’s not going to stop someone from speeding,” National Motorists Association Communications Director Shelia Dunn argued. “Because they don’t get the ticket until weeks later.”

The National Motorists Association criticizes automated traffic enforcement.

“Because it’s really more about revenue than it is about safety,” Dunn added.

State officials counter these claims by saying the program isn’t to penalize drivers, it’s to protect workers. They recycle the money to pay for the program and road safety.

“People think it’s big brother watching them but it’s not,” Schreffler said. “If you’re not speeding, you’re not going to get a ticket.”

“It is a constitutional right that we are able to confront our accuser,” Dunn stated. “Cameras are not accusers, they’re just a technology.”

Dunn says her organization, instead, advocates for more signage, barriers and education.

“Motorists need to pay attention and that’s what’s really important,” she explained. “It is important to keep work zone workers safe.”

But those behind the barriers want more enforcement.

“Why is it okay for you to drive through our office putting us in danger?” Schreffler asked.

“We also have to go home to our families, we have to go home and take care of our kids,” Johnson said.

The pilot program will be up for a vote next year and could end in Feb. 2024 unless officials decide to extend it.