The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) has denied the City of Muscatine’s applications to conduct automated speed enforcement at all of the city’s fixed camera locations. The use of the mobile unit was approved at specific locations in Muscatine, however.
The City has been conducting automated speed enforcement at these locations since 2011.
“We are complying with the order while also reviewing the impacts this will have on the City of Muscatine,” Anthony Kies, Muscatine Police Chief and Interim City Administrator, said.
The fixed system in Muscatine was installed in 2011 due to the high number of accidents, some fatal, on US 61 due to high rates of speed and driving through red lights. For the past 12 years the City has seen a decrease in the number of accidents and a decrease in speeding violations.
Not only did the traffic cameras improve safety on US 61 and on Park Avenue, they also allowed our officers to be in other parts of the city and respond quicker to calls for assistance.
“Our hope is that drivers will continue to obey the speed laws and we avoid an increase in the number and seriousness of accidents,” Jeff Jirak, Captain of Patrol, said.
The Muscatine fixed camera locations include:
- Park Avenue at Cleveland Street (NB)
- Park Avenue at Cleveland Street (SB)
- Park Avenue at Washington Street (NB)
- Park Avenue at Washington Street (SB)
- Cedar Street at Houser Street (EB)
- Cedar Street at Houser Street (WB)
- US 61 at University Avenue (WB)
- US 61 at Mulberry Avenue (WB)
“The reason for the denial of these applications was vague and incomplete but the City will comply and not conduct any speed photo enforcement at these locations,” Steve Snider, Assistant Police Chief, said. “These locations will, however, continue to enforce red light violations.”
A new state law required municipalities to submit an application to the DOT justifying the use of cameras to identify and cite drivers who violate speed limits. The DOT approved only 11 fixed cameras in five cities out of 348 permit requests from 28 municipalities. There were four approved sites in Cedar Rapids, four in Davenport, and one each in Des Moines, Marshalltown, and LeClaire.
The DOT did approve applications by the City of Muscatine for the use of mobile speed enforcement, so the speed car will continue to be used for speed enforcement at select locations around the city. Overall, the DOT approved 153 mobile cameras and denied 66.
The City of Muscatine will continue to seek an explanation from the DOT for the applications that were denied.