Maryland is giving drivers who get caught by speed cameras going too fast in work zones at least  two more weeks to clean up their act before they face $40 fines.

The State Highway Administration, Maryland Transportation Authority and the Maryland State Police said they are extending the one-month grace period  that began when the state's new speed camera law took effect Oct. 1. According to the highway administration, more than 900 warnings have gone out to drivers who were exceeding the speed  limit in work zones by at least 12 mph.

"We are extending the warning phase because our goal isn't to 'catch' speeders, but to give citizens an opportunity to change dangerous driving behaviors" before the State Police and Transportation Authority Police begin issuing tickets, said state Highway Administrator Neil J. Pedersen.

SHA spokeswoman Valerie Burnette Edgar said that the warning period was extended because it took about two weeks after Oct. 1 for the first warnings to be processed  and sent out. She said officials wanted to make sure motorists had fair warning before sending out actual citations.

The extended warning period applies to work zones only and not to  violations  detected by speed cameras in school  zones.