There’s a race in the Iowa Senate to determine the future of traffic enforcement cameras — and it’s NOT clear which side will win. One bill under consideration in a Senate committee would ban the cameras. The other bill cleared the Senate Transportation Committee Wednesday and it would keep the cameras, but fines would be slashed and the D-O-T would have to approve the placement of all the cameras. Senator Dan Zumbach of Ryan says the cameras are making some Iowa roadways safer.
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Senator Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls was the only member of the Senate Transportation Committee who voted against the bill that would keep traffic cameras operating, but with some new restrictions. He warns putting the Iowa D-O-T in charge of WHERE the permanent AND mobile cameras can be positioned means all the complaints about tickets will filter up to legislators.
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Over the past few years, Iowa legislators have passed bills that have called for limits on traffic camera fines, plus bills that would ban the cameras altogether, but NONE of those proposals has gotten enough support to clear both the House AND Senate. The Senate Republican Leader who decides which bills get debated hasn’t indicated which path he may pursue.
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