By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – A new law went into effect Monday in Missouri that increases the penalties for reckless driving in work zones.
Any motorist who endangers a highway worker by speeding, illegally passing or failing to stop for a flagger will receive four license points and a fine up to 1000 dollars.
If that driver kills or injures a worker, the fine goes up to 10-thousand dollars.
MODOT's Ed Hassinger says the law is necessary because of the increase in road work around the state.
"Two of our contractors' employees have been killed in work zones, and one of MODOT's," Hassinger said. "And these are senseless acts. I think if people would pay attention, they wouldn't have to happen."
The MODOT worker who died was a motorist assist employee helping at the scene of a vehicle fire.
The new law also includes accident sites in the definition of a work zone.