KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsTraffic cameras may be booted

Traffic cameras may be booted

An Iowa legislative panel has approved a measure to ban the use of automated red light and speed cameras in the state. Sioux City is one community that uses the cameras.           

Sioux City Representative Jeremy Taylor supports a ban. He filed a bill that would allow for a constitutional amendment outlawing both traffic and speed cameras, saying it violates the sixth amendment right to face one's accuser.

Taylor says the Arizona-based camera company has already given out too many incorrect tickets and it is not making roads safer.

"You could be speeding again, you could run five stop lights in Sioux City and you will never have license revocation," said Taylor. "And I think that is also a problem if we're talking about safety."

Not everyone backs the ban.

The speed cameras were put in place on I-29 in May. From then until Dec. 31, Sioux City police say more than 2 million cars have had their speeds checked by the automated system. Fewer than 9,000 were issued tickets during that time. 

Police say people are simply paying more attention while they're driving.

"Whichever way you look at it, voluntary compliance is way up, speeds are way down and they're down to the speeds that the state says needs to be in order for it to be safe," said Capt. Mel Williams of the Sioux City Police Department.

Sioux City council member Tom Padgett says the red light cameras are first and foremost for safety, but getting rid of them could also affect the city's bottom line.           

Padgett says removing the cameras could cost the city up to $3 million in revenue each year, which goes into the capital budget. 

If the revenue is lost, Padgett says it could cost taxpayers who will then have to make up the money through increased property taxes or decreased services.

"We would look to cut services and/or buildings, things of that sort, if we were to move in that direction," said Padgett.

The traffic camera ban bill is still being debated in the House Transportation Subcommittee. Supporters say they think it has a good chance of passing.