COUNTY NEWS

County to consider speed cameras

Sheriff says speeding out of control on Hwy. 218/27

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LEE COUNTY – Slow down on Hwys. 218 and 27. Just start it now.

Lee County is currently in discussions to add speed cameras on that main circuit through the county.

Penalties for speeding would be civil and not criminal, but Lee County Supervisor Chairman Garry Seyb and Lee County Sheriff Stacy Weber said the move is geared to get people to slow down.

Weber has said for most of his five years as sheriff that Lee County needs to do more to save lives on roadways.

“Fifty-two percent of traffic was speeding northbound and I worry for our citizens who live in and have to travel the area around Highway 27,” Weber said.

“Motorists passing through ignore our state posted speed limit and endanger our friends and families who are crossing over it every day.”

Seyb said it’s something Weber has been looking at for some time.

“He reached out and we talked about it. We haven’t really put it out there in public space as we were research-driven to start with,” Seyb said."

“This is going to be coming up before the board to look at because it will involve a contract.”

Seyb said initially he wasn’t on board with the idea because of the public perception, but since that time he’s been paying attention to traffic patterns as he drives to work on the stretch of highway four days a week.

“I do support it at this point. Initially, I had some thoughts about and wanted to take some time to consider it.”

He said he feels most reactions to it will be negative, but he’s encouraging people to look at the move objectively.

“I would tell taxpayers this will go into the general fund and could help keep the levy down a little bit as well, but the most important thing is that it will save lives.”

“Most people will believe this is revenue-driven, but where I came to sit was the safety aspect. We can’t afford to hire another officer to be out there 24/7. When I think about the loss of life we’ve had on our roads in Lee County…this provides that reminder that there is a speed limit. There is a speed limit and we need to slow down.”

The contract will include the installation of the cameras, monitoring the cameras, and issuing civil citations, very similar to other cities in Iowa such as Cedar Rapids.

Seyb said Cedar Rapids cameras generate over $1 million annually, but he said they have many cameras along the Hwy. 380 corridor.

Weber said he’d like to see some of the revenue go to drivers' education programs for the three county schools, as well as helping prop up the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) programming locally.

Seyb said those allocations will have to be sorted out by the board of supervisors.

The agenda item isn’t on for discussion during this week’s regular meeting, but it could come up during a workshop following Monday’s meeting.

Speed cameras, Lee County, Sheriff Stacy Weber, Garry Seyb, board of supervisors, Highway 218, Highway 27, Iowa, news, Pen City Current

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  • Sandman

    I commend Sheriff Weber and his team on the good work they always do. However, speed cameras have no place in our country. They are an attempt to robotically control the citizens with no due process. By allowing these cameras we are submitting to a police state with mass surveillance without a warrant.

    I am sure the speed camera companies have lauded the praises of the effectiveness of their product to Sheriff Weber. However, consider the source. We have all seen statistics manipulated to benefit these corporations. Many times these are just not telling the whole truth.

    Is speeding really causing fatalities in Lee County, or is drunk driving more if a problem?

    If we install these cameras it will take a group of people to go over camera footage everyday and try to determine guilt or innocence based on limited information. I would much rather have those individuals out on the highways looking for drunk drivers and stranded or hurt people rather than playing judge, jury and executioner behind some desk.

    The cameras often fail to provide information on the driver. They are mostly suited to provide license plate information. So grandma in the nursing home still has her cars registered and her spoiled grandchildren take the Vette out on a joy ride. Grandma gets a nice ticket for doing nothing more than registering a vehicle. Innocent people will pay for the misdeeds of others, guaranteed.

    Modern GPS navigation programs on phones and in cars automatically warn drivers of upcoming speed cameras. How many of us have used navigation on our phone and received a "spped camera ahead" warning? How often have you driven through Cedar Rapids and everyone starts braking just before the cameras and then drop the hammer again after they pass it? All the time!

    One of the most frustrating things i have seen is an officer on 218 during a hirrible snowstorm sitting in the median and using radar. No one was even close to going the speed limit. That individual wpuld have been serving the citizens better by patrolling and helping out stranded motorists.

    Please Sheriff Weber, use those individuals you have planned to sit behind a desk and put them out on the road to protect and serve us. Camera only serve corporations and protect no one except Big Brother.

    Thursday, March 23, 2023 Report this