The Wisconsin County Highway Association and the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) is commending Senator Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) and Representative John Spiros (R-Marshfield) for their dedication in keeping highway work zones safer with the signing of their bills, SB 135 and AB 198. The bills, prompted by three Wisconsin highway work zone fatalities in 2015, ban the use of “handheld communication devices” in areas labeled as work zones.

“This is a common sense piece of legislation that goes a long way toward promoting a safer highway work zone environment,” said WCA Executive Director Mark D. O’Connell. “We appreciate the dedication of Senator Petrowski and Representative Spiros to county highway issues and to the workers that keep Wisconsin moving and our economy thriving.”

WCHA has been working in partnership with WCA to make passage of this bill a priority. Last summer, Shawano, Calumet and Lincoln County each experienced a fatality of a highway department employee.

“Our county highway workers are literally putting their lives on the line every day and this new law will be one more tool to protect them,” said WCHA Executive Director Daniel Fedderly, P.E.; P.L.S. “People need to slow down in work zones and be aware that there are deadly consequences for irresponsible and inattentive driving. We are grateful to Senator Petrowski and Representative Spiros for their commitment to keeping our county workers safer on the job.”

SB 135 and AB 198 were signed into law by Governor Walker on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 in Madison.