DES MOINES, Iowa — Police departments across the state stopped issuing citations from speed cameras as they work to comply with the new regulations.
Governor Reynolds signed House File 2681 into law last month and it will go into effect on July 1st.
The new law states that revenue collected from these cameras can only be used for public safety and infrastructure. It also requires signs between 500 and 1,000 feet along highways where the system is used. The law creates a standardized speeding fine throughout the state.
Police departments like Des Moines,
Marshalltown Police say speed and traffic concerns are the number one complaint they receive from residents. Less than a year ago, they added two stationary speed cameras.
Police Chief Michael Tupper said his department gets between 600 and 650 service calls in a week and the cameras help their departments reduce speed, while allowing them to focus on other community concerns.
“It’s a great tool for us, it’s a great resource. But I go back to my advice for the community; if you don’t like the cameras, put us out of business and stop speeding. It’s that simple. We don’t like to issue tickets, but speeding is a big problem and it’s a public safety issue.”
They’re urging drivers to continue to follow the posted speed limits. Tupper said that while the cameras aren’t issuing citations, they are still collecting data. Therefore, the department will work with its legal team to determine whether citations can be issued in the future for current violations.
When the law was originally introduced, it stated that cities with less than 20,000 people wouldn’t be eligible for a stationary speed camera. But, under the signed law that isn’t the case.
Prairie City Police say they are happy with the decision to allow cities like them the ability to keep stationary speed cameras.
Chief Kevin Gott said, “Our city is grateful that the Automated Traffic Enforcement systems were not completely eliminated. They are extremely beneficial to our community since we have limited manpower resources to be able to do constant speed enforcement. The fine amounts being lowered will affect the expected revenue which has been allocated to the building of a new fire station but not to a great amount.”
The law does say that cities with less than 20,000 people cannot use mobile speed cameras.
Chief Gott said that because of this his city will no longer use its one mobile speed camera but will continue to operate its three stationary speed cameras.