Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
SF 2319 – Traffic Cameras (LSB5548SV)
Staff Contact: Danielle Beavers (515.725.1286) danielle.beavers@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
Senate File 2319 prohibits the use of automated or remote systems for traffic enforcement
(ATE) by State and local authorities on or adjacent to a highway. Under the Bill, information
used to impose or collect a civil penalty that results from a violation that was captured using an
ATE is not to be shared between the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department
of Public Safety (DPS). This Bill requires the removal of all existing ATE devices by July 1,
2022. Citations issued before July 1, 2022, remain enforceable under the Bill. The Bill is
effective upon enactment.
Background
As of February 2022, there are eight cities in Iowa that operate ATE devices, including Fort
Dodge, Council Bluffs, Waterloo, Muscatine, Sioux City, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, and Des
Moines. This does not include the city of Windsor Heights. Windsor Heights ceased operating
ATE devices April 21, 2020. The data for ATE devices in Fort Dodge, Council Bluffs, and
Waterloo is currently not available, and therefore these cities are not included this analysis.
In January 2014, the DOT adopted an administrative rule that regulated the use of ATE devices
on the primary road system. In April 2018, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the DOT did not
have the authority to regulate ATE devices.
Polk County declined to renew its vendor contract for ATE devices and ceased issuing
violations from its two mobile units in December 2017; Ottumwa ceased operating ATE devices
in October 2018.
Under Iowa Code section 8A.504, the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) operates
the Iowa Offset Program which can withhold certain State payments on behalf of local
authorities to individuals and companies that do not pay their ATE violations. The DAS charges
$7 per violation collected to offset the costs of administering the Program. Fees are deposited
into the DAS general operating budget.
The cities of Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Muscatine, and Windsor
Heights participated in the Program in FY 2018. Cedar Rapids has a signed agreement with the
Iowa Offset Program; however, as of February 2019, the city is not submitting any unpaid
violations for collection. Waterloo began participation in the Iowa Offset Program in September
2018 (FY 2019).
Assumptions
• All existing ATE devices will cease operation on or before July 1, 2022. Table 1 provides
data on the number of ATE devices, base cost per violation, vendor’s share, and share of
local authorities’ revenues.
• All citations issued prior to July 1, 2022, will remain valid.
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• Automated traffic enforcement device-issued citations will not be submitted for offset after
June 30, 2023.
• Assumes citations at FY 2021 level would have occurred if the Bill had not been passed.
Fiscal Impact
Senate File 2319 is estimated to reduce annual revenue to DAS by $65,000 in FY 2023. While
cities have discretion on submitting unpaid citations to the Iowa Offset Program, given the
stated assumptions the revenue decrease would occur in FY 2023.
The Bill is estimated to decrease revenue to local authorities by at least an estimated $14.6
million per fiscal year. This estimate does not include the decrease in local revenue to Fort
Dodge, Council Bluffs, and Waterloo. Table 1 includes information obtained by the Legislative
Services Agency (LSA) for the last full fiscal year. Table 2 shows each city’s use of ATE
revenue and which cities participate in the Iowa Offset Program.
Table 1
Estimated Violations and Revenues from ATE Devices***
(As of February 2022)
Local Number of Number of Number of Base Fine Vendor Local Authority
Authority Operating ATEs Violations Issued Violations Collected Per Violation* Revenue Revenue**
Cedar Rapids 27 171,919 105,108 $ 75 $ 2,336,035 $ 8,094,784
Davenport 18 47,013 23,152 65 506,457 1,017,176
Des Moines 9 102,138 71,687 65 1,738,092 2,921,510
Sioux City 8 15,246 20,956 100 629,515 2,028,155
Muscatine 9 10,675 9,368 75 253,152 565,265
Totals 71 346,991 230,271 $ 5,463,251 $ 14,626,890
* Lowest violation amount. Actual violation amounts may increase depending on miles over the legal speed limit.
** Collected revenue may include fine moneys collected through the Iowa Offset Program for violations issued in prior years.
*** Fort Dodge, Council Bluffs, and Waterloo are not included in revenue totals.
Source: Local authorities
Table 2
Local Uses of ATE Revenues
Authority Uses Offset Program
Cedar Rapids Police Department Operating Fund Yes
Davenport General Fund No
Des Moines Des Moines Public Safety Radio System Yes
Muscatine Police Department No
Sioux City Public Safety Projects No
Windsor Heights General Fund No
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Sources
Iowa Department of Transportation
Local authorities
LSA calculations
Department of Administrative Services
/s/ Holly M. Lyons
March 1, 2022
Doc ID 1287696
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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