By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
Speed cameras on Interstate 29 have had a profound effect on reducing speeding, but changes proposed by the Iowa Department of Transportation could put the brakes on their use.
We've probably all done it: come across one of the speed cameras in Sioux City and immediately slowed down, or at least checked your speedometer. And that's exactly why the Sioux City Police Department says the traffic cameras are so vital.
Before the DOT had no jurisdiction over Sioux City's traffic cameras, but now it's changing its views.
Sioux City Capt. Mel Williams said, "They've kind of went through this interesting process where we have no jurisdiction, to where we have jurisdiction to where we're just going to ban them, all within about a 90 day period."
The Police Department clearly doesn't know where it stands with the DOT. So when the DOT announced plans for a new committee of legislators that would come up with traffic camera rules, it got even more confusing.
Some of the guidelines could include: location criteria, annual evaluations of effectiveness and the idea that every other option should be exhausted before installing cameras.
Captain Mel Williams says he's not sure if the guidelines are safety-driven, "Or whether it's a formula to prevent photo enforcement in the state of Iowa. There's a lot of things about the guidelines that baffle us."
"The DOT cannot just go out and create rules on their own, that's not the intent. It's really oversight by a group of legislators that says 'ok, the DOT has the ability within Iowa law to create these rules'," said IA DOT's Steve Gents.
Sioux City's first ever DOT traffic camera evaluation could be due by April 15th. The DOT hopes to have the guideline system in the books by the end of the year.
