Recently, there have been more cities in Iowa that have adopted speed cameras. Installed at vital intersections or where speeding is a constant issue, vehicles that don’t adhere to a given speed limit get their license plates photographed before receiving a ticket and a fine through the mail.
Those towns have included Cedar Rapids, Fort Dodge, Marion and even the small community of Prairie City.
With the intention of keeping traffic honest in significant portions of town, the City of Webster City is paving the way for speed cameras. The speed cameras will be at two locations within Webster City, primarily focusing on Highway 20 and Highway 17.
The Highway 17 location is off of Briggs Woods Road and off of Millards Lane, just north of the Boone River. The Highway 20 location would be just to the west of the interchange, where Edgewood Dr. intersects with the freeway.
Before it can be enacted, the ordinance pertaining to automated traffic enforcement needs to be passed via three different readings. In their latest meeting, held this past Monday at the Council Chambers within City Hall, 400 Second St., the City Council of Webster City passed the second reading of the ordinance.
Before the ordinance can move to fruition, the council must approve its third reading — which was originally set to be waived and published.
Instead, the third reading is scheduled to take place at the council’s next meeting on June 19.
Council member Marty McKinney provided the suggestion of receiving the third reading, instead of the city staff’s initial suggestion to waive the ordinance’s final reading.
“I’ve received a few comments from citizens, and I would prefer that we maintain the due process to make comments,” said McKinney.
Council member Logan Welch concurred with McKinney’s suggestion.
“It’s a controversial issue, to say the least,” Welch said. “Any expedition of the process would not only be looked upon poorly, but also it might be a little quick. There might be some ideas that could come up within the next few weeks that could weigh into this.”
While the issue of speed cameras did advance through the Iowa legislature, the measure faltered within the Iowa House of Representatives and within the Iowa Senate.
On April 17, the council approved an agreement with Sensys Gatso in implementing an ATE program. There will not be any pursuit of any stop sign or traffic light violations, just speed violation enforcement.
Also taking place during the 27-minute meeting, the council approved another ordinance, which adopted various stop signs throughout town.
View the original article as it appeared in the Daily Freeman-Journal.
Last modified: June 7, 2023