New speed camera approved in Prairie City

A new speed camera was approved to be added on the eastbound lanes of Highway 163 in Prairie City. The city council approved the new camera along with increasing the issue violation limit to 11 miles per hour and above on certain cameras.

Prairie City Police Chief Kevin Gott said following the Iowa State Legislature discussion on speed cameras, several other cities contacted him about the program. Of those that added cameras in their communities they all set to issue violations at 11 mph and up. That limit one proposal to be discussed at the state house, along it did not make it out of committee.

“Moving the lower threshold up to 11 will result in a decrease of 47 percent of violations,” Gott said. “This in turn will have negative impact on expected revenue.”

To help offset the loss, and Gott said to help enforce speed violators going in the eastbound direction, he proposed adding an additional speed camera.

“We can all agree that slower speeds mean safer roadways and the revenue gained is allowing the projects to be done that would not be possible without a tax rate increase or loss of other services,” Gott said.

According to data from Blue Line Solutions, the Tennessee based company who administers the speed cameras, at 75 mph 5,871 citations were issued from the camera on Hwy 163. From 76 to 85 mph 6,134 citations were issued and 86 mph and above had 200 citations issued.

“The program was never designed in such a manner to be construed as a ‘money grab,’ as many media outlets portray it,” Blue Line Solutions CEO Mark Hutchinson said. “Though it seems counterproductive to the safety component of the program, I and Blue Line Solutions believe the best course of action would be to increase the threshold for issuing citations to 11 plus mph over versus 10 mph.”

A specific location for the eastbound speed camera has not been determined but the council recommended east of the overpass bridge.

According to the automated traffics enforcement language added to the Prairie City code of ordinance, the vehicle owner will be liable for the fine which ranges from $100 for 1 to 14 mph over, $200 for 15 to 19 mph and $400 for 20 mph over or more. An automated traffic citation will not be sent or reported to the Iowa Department of Transportation or similar department or any other state for the purpose of being added to the vehicle owner’s driving record.

A notice of the violation will be mailed to the vehicle owner within 30 days after the police department determines a violation has occurred. A violation can be contested by submitting a form within 30 days of the first notice.