New Iowa law regulates how cities can use traffic camera ticket revenue
Cities can only use revenue from traffic cameras to fund infrastructure improvement projects and police and fire department operating costs.
Cities can only use revenue from traffic cameras to fund infrastructure improvement projects and police and fire department operating costs.
Cities can only use revenue from traffic cameras to fund infrastructure improvement projects and police and fire department operating costs.
A new law reforming how revenue is distributed from traffic camera finds is forcing cities to decide where to reallocate their money.
The law will go into effect on July 1 and requires that cities only use revenue from traffic cameras to fund infrastructure improvement projects and police and fire department operating costs.
Marshalltown is expecting $800,000 in revenue from speed cameras next year.
The city council initially planned to use traffic camera revenue for a town beautification project.
However, the new law has led them to reconsider how they use that money.
Jeff Schneider, a Marshalltown City Council member, said the cameras have been a major help to the city's law enforcers.
"This is a force multiplier for our police department. Our police department does a great job, but it's like police departments all over the country: understaffed," Schneider said. "They need everything they can to maximize the people they have."
Schneider says Marshalltown will decide how to reallocate the money after the law is enacted July 1.
However, Prairie City has already decided it will be using its traffic camera ticket funds to build a new fire station.
The town recently broke ground on the $2.3 million project last week.
Prairie City Police Chief Kevin Gott said $1.3 million of that is coming from traffic camera fines.
"It's just going to make a huge improvement to the city, and it's well-needed," Gott said.
He said the additional space will lead to more space for fire trucks.
Gott said the department currently has five fire trucks inside a three-bay garage.
Local governments will have to apply for permits for traffic cameras along with justification for why the camera is needed in that area in order to comply with the law.
Cities must apply to the Department of Transportation by July 1 in order to get a permit by Oct. 1, 2024.
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