Politics & Government

Iowa City Votes Yes on Red-Light Traffic Cameras

By a narrow margin, the Iowa City City Council voted to change the

At the moment, it looks like the Iowa City City Council is ready to give red-light traffic cameras a go.

With a narrow 4-3 vote, council members approved the first reading of an ordinance change that would permit the use of as a traffic control device.

"If it changes the behavior of the way people drive, if it saves one person, that's worth it to me," said Terry Dickens, who voted yes on the ordinance.

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Let us know what you think about red-light cameras in the comments, and check out the voting in about whether Iowa City should have red-light cameras.

If the ordinance and a red-light traffic contract are reached, Iowa City Traffic Planner John Yapp said ten intersections would be targetted for camera installation where red-light running has been a problem.

members Connie Champion, Michelle Payne and Jim Throgmorton voted no on the vote. Champion repeated her previously stated position that she disagreed with the idea of cameras enforcing behavior and Payne said that the idea was too "Big Brother" for her tastes.

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Council member Jim Throgmorton said he was not persuaded by the arguments of Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine and City Transportation Planner John Yapp that the red-light cameras would reduce traffic accidents.

"I don't see, based on the data, any coherent connection between the number of red light collisions and the number of collisions at these 10 intersections already mentioned," Throgmorton said.

Chief Hargadine said that safety was only part of the equation, the other part is modifying motorist behavior.

"We're asking for the ability to hold people accountable," Hargadine said. "If they're never held accountable, they keep running them."

Mayor Matt Hayek said he was voting yes on the issue to give city staff the opportunity to investigate the cameras, noting that a yay vote did not mean the city was entering into a contract.

"I don't consider this to be Orwellian, I don't consider this to be a money grab," Hayek said of the cameras. "I think our police officers are better served elsewhere in the community."


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