ALLENTOWN (TNS) — Speed enforcement cameras are doing their job in Pennsylvania highway construction zones.

About 219,000 warnings and citations were slapped on motorists who blew through work zones last year at more than 10 mph faster than the speed limit.

Only about 11% of them were issued to repeat offenders. That means most drivers got the message when they received their first notice and slowed down in the future.

Other data are promising, too.

Drivers drove 5 to 8 mph slower in work zones with cameras, according to a recent report.

First-time offenders aren’t hit with fines under the program, which started last year. The state’s goal isn’t to penalize motorists. It’s to protect road crews, who often work in tight quarters only feet from cars and trucks zipping by.

Repeat offenders are fined.

They deserve to be punished, for repeatedly disregarding the safety of the men and women who build and repair our highways, and for disregarding the safety of other motorists.

Work zones often are narrow, with no room for error. One leadfoot can easily start a chain-reaction crash.

Unfortunately, punishment isn’t always occurring.

Only 70% of the levied fines were paid. And under the law, there’s not much the state can do about it. Sure, it can send the debt to a collection agency, which it plans to do. But collections aren’t always successful.

In their recent report, state officials asked legislators to amend the law to allow vehicle registration renewals to be denied for people who haven’t paid their fines.

There is precedent for that. Drivers who don’t pay Turnpike tolls face that penalty.

The fines aren’t onerous, so there’s no reason for violators to complain. Drivers caught speeding in work zones more than once receive a ticket in the mail for $75 for their second offense, and $150 for every subsequent offense.

State officials also suggested lawmakers increase fines based on the speed of violators. Someone driving 21 mph over the speed limit would be penalized more than someone driving 11 mph over the speed limit.

That makes sense, too.

I’m not on board with another request, though, that first-time violators be fined.

Authorities don’t believe warnings are enough of a deterrent, PennDOT spokesperson Jennifer Kuntch told Morning Call reporter Tom Shortell.

“A fine on a first-time violation is not meant to be a cash grab, but is meant to capture a driver’s attention immediately, getting them to slow down and increase safety in our work zones for everyone,” Kuntch said.

“Data shows the warning violation doesn’t immediately change driver behavior.”

With only about 11% of citations issued to repeat offenders, it seems that the program is working. While I’d like to see a lower rate, that doesn’t seem bad. And it should drop as the program expands.

Remember, last year was its first year, and travel was down because of the pandemic.

How about this compromise?

Lower the threshold for violations. Start sending warnings and tickets to drivers who are going more than 5 mph over the work zone speed limit, instead of 10 mph.

That would nab more people and spread the message.

(Paul Muschick is a columnist for The Morning Call of Allentown.)