The Iowa State Senate yesterday voted 28-22 to ban red light cameras. Senator Pat Ward (R-West Des Moines) introduced the ban in the form of a freestanding amendment to a transportation bill that had previously passed the state House.

Although the provision would prevent any cities from adopting programs in the future, it only affects a single currently operational program. Four consecutive county court rulings have already shut down red light camera programs in Clive and Davenport (view ruling) as illegal. Sioux City canceled plans to install its own system, leaving Council Bluffs as the last city in the state running an automated ticketing program.

The results have been mixed at best. Even Council Bluffs police admit accidents increased at at least one of the four intersections with cameras. Davenport likewise saw a massive increase in rear-end collisions following installation of the devices.

The amended transportation bill containing the ban will return to the state House for its final approval and must be signed by the governor to take effect.

Article Excerpt:

Senate Amendment 3248

Amend House File 793, as amended, passed, and reprinted by the House, as follows:

#1. Page 7, by inserting after line 11 the following:
"Sec. . NEW SECTION. 321.258A RED LIGHT CAMERAS PROHIBITED.

The department or a local authority shall not place or cause to be placed on or adjacent to a highway, or maintain or employ the use of, a red light camera.

For purposes of this section, "red light camera" means a device installed on or in proximity to an official traffic control signal to produce recorded images for the purpose of enforcement of traffic laws.

#2. Title page, line 12, by inserting after the word "liability," the following: "use of red light cameras for traffic enforcement,".

#3. By renumbering as necessary.


PAT WARD
THOMAS G. COURTNEY
JEFF ANGELO
DAVID JOHNSON
JAMES F. HAHN
JOHN PUTNEY
RON WIECK