Prosecutor says drivers can face fines, possible jail time for violating work zone laws

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Starting Monday, one lane in each direction of Highway 63 in Columbia will close over night until Oct. 12, according to a press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The passing lanes in both directions between Conley Road and Broadway will be closed 7 p.m.-6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30-Saturday, Oct. 12, the release says. The lane closure is related to the Improve I-70 Project and comes before a lane shift later this month to complete bridge construction.

Boone County Prosecutor Roger Johnson said it's important people remain vigilant while driving through work zones to ensure the safety of the workers.

"We see unfortunately in the criminal world, people who are going to work and going about their business that are injured or killed every day in traffic collisions."

Last week, a MoDOT worker was killed while on the job.

According to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, Jay Bone, 60, of Smithton was hit by a semi-truck in the 17000 block of Route O in Pettis County on Sept. 25. Patrol Cpl. Justin Ewing said Bone was on duty working with an asphalt crew when he was hit in the northbound lane by a tractor-trailer.

The report states Brandon Knox, 18, of Hughesville was heading north on Route O when he allegedly hit Bone. Ewing told ABC 17 News via email Monday that criminal charges against Ewing had not been filed.

"There have not been any charges filed as of now. Any fatal crash that involves a reconstruction by our major crash investigation unit usually takes approximately 2-3 months to complete. There is a lot of technical data, photos, etc that have to be compiled and analyzed," the statement reads. "Typically, once this full report is finished, it would be forwarded onto the local prosecutor’s office with any changes that are deemed applicable at that time."

Johnson said there are laws in place in Missouri, such as the "Move Over Law" that provides consequences for those who don't follow work zone rules. The law requires drivers to change lanes when safe to do so, when approaching emergency vehicles.

"That could be police officers, ambulance, fire... it could also be any vehicle that has flashing lights," Johnson said. "You're supposed to slow down and move over to the other lane.  Failing to move over is a misdemeanor in Missouri that's punishable by up to a year in jail or a $2,000 fine, or both."

Johnson said since Jan. 1, the Boone County Prosecutor's Office charged 14 people for failing to move over and in 2023, 22 people were charged.

Johnson said he was not aware of anyone being charged in Boone County under the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law since it went into effect in August 2023. The law also provides possible charges for drivers in relation to work zones.

The law makes it illegal for drivers to hold a cell phone with any part of their body. That includes manually typing, writing, sending, or reading text-based messages.

Johnson said charges for people who use their phones while in a vehicle can include a fine. He said there are stricter punishments if someone is injured or killed as a result of a person doing so.

"If you do harm somebody, there are much more serious consequences. The statute has elevated fines if you harm somebody and it also could be charged separately as a felony assault or manslaughter," Johnson said.