INDOT restarts Safe Zones speed enforcement on I-70 in Hancock County construction work areas
Automated work-zone speed enforcement returns to eastern Hancock County
The Indiana Department of Transportation has resumed its Safe Zones worksite speed-control program in Hancock County, bringing automated speed monitoring back to an active construction segment of Interstate 70 east of Greenfield.
Safe Zones is a state-authorized pilot that uses truck-mounted speed-detection equipment and camera systems to identify vehicles traveling 11 mph or more over the posted work-zone speed limit. The system documents violations by photographing rear license plates, with notices mailed to the vehicle owner after the event is validated and certified.
Where the enforcement is active
In Hancock County, the enforcement area is on I-70 in the eastern part of the county, generally covering the stretch near mile markers 105 through 109. The program is designed to operate only in active work zones, and posted signage is used to alert drivers as they enter and exit areas where monitoring is underway.
How penalties are structured
The pilot program follows a graduated penalty model intended to change driver behavior rather than impose immediate fines. Penalties are civil and issued to the vehicle owner.
- First violation: warning notice with no fine
- Second violation: $75 civil penalty
- Third and subsequent violations: $150 civil penalty per violation
Collected penalties are deposited into Indiana’s General Fund. Under program rules, workers must be present in the work zone at the time of the recorded violation for enforcement to be valid.
Program background and limits
Safe Zones was authorized by House Enrolled Act 1015 during the 2023 Indiana legislative session, with the law taking effect July 1, 2023. The pilot permits INDOT to deploy up to four automated systems statewide at any given time. The program first began operating in Hancock County on I-70 in 2024 as part of its initial deployments.
Why work-zone speed remains a focus
Work zones carry heightened crash risk for both crews and the traveling public. State work-zone safety information emphasizes that most people killed in work zones are drivers and passengers, not workers, and that rear-end collisions are among the most common crash types in these environments.
Drivers are reminded that work zones often include shifting traffic patterns, reduced speeds, lane changes and merges, and increased stopping distance needs.
What drivers should expect
Motorists traveling through the I-70 corridor in Hancock County should anticipate signage indicating where Safe Zones monitoring is active, continued construction activity, and enforcement triggered by speeds 11 mph or more above the posted limit. INDOT has not set a public end date for how long the Hancock County enforcement segment will remain active, as deployments are tied to active work and may change as projects progress.