Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
SF 489 – Traffic Cameras (LSB2506SV)
Staff Contact: Maria Wagenhofer (515.281.5270) maria.wagenhofer@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
Senate File 489 regulates the use of automated or remote systems for traffic law enforcement
(ATE system). “Automated or remote system for traffic law enforcement” is defined in the Bill as
a camera or other optical device designed to work in conjunction with an official traffic control
signal or speed measuring device to identify motor vehicles operating in violation of traffic laws,
the use of which results in the issuance of citations sent through the mail or by electronic
means. The Bill provides that local authorities must hold a valid permit from the Iowa
Department of Transportation (DOT) before using an ATE system. The DOT is authorized to
determine whether a system is appropriate and necessary and the least restrictive means to
address the traffic safety issues at a location. The Bill details a list of requirements that must be
included in an application for a permit.
Local authorities are only authorized to use an ATE system for the following violations:
• Failure to yield or stop at an intersection controlled by a traffic-controlled signal.
• Failure to yield or stop at a railroad crossing.
• Exceeding the speed limit by more than 10 miles per hour.
Local authorities may only issue warnings for violations detected by a mobile system. Local
authorities must have permanent signs giving notice of the systems at least 500 feet but not
more than 1,000 feet along the approach of a highway where a system is used. These signs
must be erected at least 30 days before a system enforces violations. The Bill requires a local
authority to submit to the DOT and post on the local authority’s Internet site an annual report
that details the number of traffic collisions and accidents, the number of citations issued, and
any other relevant information about the location where a system is in use. The Bill also
provides requirements for the installation and maintenance of an ATE system, including the
requirement for a monthly calibration of a system.
Local authorities are required to review and approve a recorded photograph or video of a
violation captured by a system before a citation is issued. With the exception of excessive
speed violations, scheduled fines must not exceed the amounts under Iowa Code section
805.8A. For excessive speed violations detected by a system, the citation amount must not
exceed $50 for speeds between 10 miles and 20 miles per hour over the limit, $75 for speeds
between 20 miles and 30 miles per hour over the limit, and $250 for speeds greater than 30
miles per hour over the limit. These amounts are doubled if the violation occurred in a road
work zone.
Senate File 489 requires the local authority to remit 10.0% of moneys collected, minus the
installation and maintenance costs of the system itself, to the Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF).
If a local authority currently uses an ATE system, the Bill requires the local authority to submit a
list of the system locations and justifications for the ATE system as required under the Bill to the
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DOT by April 1, 2023. The DOT may issue a permit to the local authority. If a local authority
does not receive a permit from the DOT by July 1, 2023, the local authority must cease
operating an ATE system. If a local authority uses an ATE system for the first time on or after
April 1, 2023, the DOT must not issue the local authority a permit before July 1, 2025. Division
II related to existing systems takes effect upon enactment.
Background
As of March 2022, the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) is aware of 19 cities and towns in
Iowa that operate an ATE system or systems, including Sioux City, Cedar Rapids, Davenport,
Muscatine, Fort Dodge, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Waterloo, Fayette, West Union, LeClaire,
Strawberry Point, Hudson, Chester, Buffalo, Bellevue, Miles, Independence, and Oelwein. Data
is not available at this time regarding the use of ATE systems in additional cities or towns. As of
March 10, 2023, the LSA obtained data from Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des
Moines, LeClaire, Muscatine, and Sioux City regarding their current ATE systems. Oelwein
and Hudson recently implemented ATE systems and do not have a full year of data. Table 1
provides data obtained by the LSA on the number of ATE systems, base cost per violation,
vendors’ share of revenues, and local authorities’ share of revenues for the last full fiscal year.
Table 1 — FY 2022 Estimated Violations and Revenues from ATE Systems
Local Number of Total Number of Number of Number of Base Fine Vendor Local Authority
Authority Mobile ATEs Operating ATEs Violations Issued Violations Collected Per Violation* Revenue Revenue
Cedar Rapids 2 19 187,575 108,557 $ 75 $ 2,439,845 $ 8,307,136
Council Bluffs 0 15 17,059 10,083 100 381,482 712,696
Davenport 4 18 43,327 21,357 65 647,671 1,720,046
Des Moines 2 11 116,918 76,960 65 1,735,109 3,267,303
LeClaire 1 5 79,922 69,341 50 2,323,790 2,428,840
Muscatine 1 9 12,177 ** 7,590 75 208,224 474,695
Sioux City 2 9 9,775 4,038 100 264,240 169,376
* Lowest violation amount. Actual violation amounts may increase depending on miles over the legal speed limit.
** Figures provided for Calendar Year 2022.
Source: Local authorities
The RUTF is the primary source of funding for construction, maintenance, and administration of
Iowa’s highways. RUTF revenue is collected by the State Treasurer and distributed to the DOT,
counties, and cities by formula. Currently, 47.5% is allocated to the DOT for primary roads,
24.5% to counties for secondary roads, 8.0% to counties for farm-to-market roads, and 20.0% to
cities, after other distributions and appropriations are taken off the top.
Assumptions
• Many local jurisdictions will be required to reduce the amount of a single citation for
speeding violations as provided in the Bill. For the purposes of this Fiscal Note, it is
estimated that revenue collected by local authorities would decrease by 25.0% as a result of
the lower violation amounts.
• It is assumed that the local authority revenue collected annually by mobile units equals the
number of mobile ATE systems that a local authority has as a percentage of the total
number of operating ATE systems.
• Installation and maintenance costs of an ATE system is assumed to include the vendor
costs. Therefore, the 10.0% of moneys collected is applied only to the local authority
revenue.
• For the purposes of this Fiscal Note, it is assumed that all cameras currently in operation
and on which the LSA has collected data will be authorized to continue in operation.
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Fiscal Impact
Senate File 489 is estimated to decrease revenue to local authorities. The full fiscal impact of
the Bill cannot be estimated. However, Table 2 includes estimates for the seven cities that
provided data to the LSA. Table 3 shows each city’s use of ATE system revenue.
Table 2 — Estimated Annual Loss in Revenue to Local
Authorities as Compared to FY 2022
Local Estimated Loss
Authority of Revenue
Cedar Rapids $ -3,290,000
Council Bluffs -232,000
Davenport -817,000
Des Moines -1,463,000
LeClaire -1,117,000
Muscatine -190,000
Sioux City -80,000
Table 3 — Local Uses of ATE Systems Revenue
Local Authority Uses
Cedar Rapids Public safety positions, equipment, and programs
Council Bluffs General Fund
Davenport General Fund
Des Moines Des Moines Public Safety Radio System and Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications System
Le Claire General Fund
Muscatine Police department personnel costs
Sioux City Public safety expenses
Senate File 489 is also estimated to increase revenue to the RUTF. For the seven cities that
provided data to the LSA, the RUTF is estimated to have an annual increase of approximately
$1.1 million. However, the full fiscal impact to the RUTF from all localities cannot be estimated
at this time.
Sources
Department of Transportation
Local authorities
LSA analysis and calculations
/s/ Jennifer Acton
March 21, 2023
Doc ID 1370436
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in developing this
fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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