SIOUX CITY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — Sioux City’s speed traffic camera law is now aligned with a new state law set to take effect in less than a month.
City council members on Monday unanimously approved the changes. The new state law, signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in May, takes effect on July 1.
Fines for anyone driving from 11-25 mph over the speed limit will decrease by $25. However, penalties for a driver cited at 26 mph or more over the posted limit increase starting July 1. Red light traffic cameras are not affected by the new law.
Cities utilizing mobile speed cameras also must file for a permit with the Iowa DOT every time they’re moved. Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott said he’s not comfortable with this change.
“It’s not very good for mobile cameras,” Scott said. “What they’re trying to do is control the ones out on the interstate, but we don’t have them there anymore. We got rid of those like we said we would, and unfortunately, we might be putting them back there because if you’re going to do a permanent one, you might as well put them on the interstate and slow that traffic down.”
The new law also allows non-police officers to review violations and issue notices of violation and municipal infraction citations.
Another item passed by the council was an update to the city’s code of ethics. The big change is that people serving on boards and commissions will now have to sign a “code of ethics” form, which is already required of city employees.
“This is pretty strict,” Scott said. “I don’t think the majority of the people have to be any more concerned than they were before. But it does now affect our boards and commissions, which historically have not had to comply with the code of ethics.”
Additionally, council members decided to defer discussing a proposal for Midwest Hotels LLC to buy some land near Sioux Gateway Airport until June 17.