Red Light Camera News IA Gov Candidate FAVORS BANNING RLC
Roberts favors ban on red-light cameras
By JASON CLAYWORTH • This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. • June 5, 2010
GOP candidate for governor and the organizer of the Iowa Tea Party favor a law banning controversial red-light cameras in Iowa.
The opposition to the enforcement cameras comes as Des Moines city officials move closer to adopting the technology and the city of Clive discusses a 33 percent fine increase for those caught running red lights on the cameras. The heart of the issue: privacy and fairness vs. public safety.
"Not only do people not appreciate government using that method, I just think it's a bad precedent to set," said Rep. Rod Roberts, a Republican from Carroll running for governor in Tuesday's primary. "Where does government go with using cameras?"
Ryan Rhodes, organizer for the Iowa Tea Party, said his group hasn't taken an official position but many of its members are highly opposed to the cameras because they feel they are a government intrusion. "At what point do you stop getting Big Brother involved?" Rhodes asked.
At least four Iowa cities - Clive, Council Bluffs, Davenport and Sioux City - have red-light cameras. Others, like Des Moines and Ankeny, are considering installing camera enforcement.
"The main focus of the city of Clive is to improve safety along the major corridors in our community," said Lisa Schmidt, Clive's assistant city manger, where leaders are considering increasing a fine for the red-light violations from $75 to $100 and adding extra cameras. "If we hired police officers to protect all the various intersections it would exhaust taxpayers."
Several states have prohibited the use of such cameras in most areas, including Maine, Mississippi and Montana. Minnesota's Supreme Court in 2007 ruled the city of Minneapolis disregarded a state law requiring uniform traffic rules across the state when the city installed its own camera enforcement. The city ultimately agreed to $2.6 million in refunds to roughly 15,000 drivers.
Two city council members from Chillicothe, Ohio, were voted out of office last year after a backlash by residents against the cameras. Chillicothe voters also approved charters to ban the cameras.
West Des Moines resident John Strong is trying to organize a "Don't buy in Clive" campaign as a way to protest the cameras. Strong got a ticket last year when turning right on what he said was a yellow light. He didn't fight the ticket, contributing to the city's $300,000 in earnings from the technology last year.
"I don't have anything against business people, but that would get them to push the city council to get rid of them," Strong said.
Other candidates for governor showed little interest in the issue. A Terry Branstad campaign official said the Republican primary frontrunner had no position and needed to look more into the issue. A spokesman for Bob Vander Plaats said there are more important things to focus upon. Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, declined to comment.
The Iowa Senate in 2009 considered a provision to a transportation bill that would have prohibited local governments from using the cameras. The provision, proposed by Sen. Pat Ward, R-West Des Moines, passed the Senate 28-22 but failed to pass the House.
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