CHAPTER 72
AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

 

72.01 Authority to Establish Location and Management	72.05 Challenging an Automated Traffic Citation
72.02 Definitions	72.06 Exemptions From 72.03
72.03 Vehicle Owner Subject to Civil Fine for Automated Traffic Citations	72.07 Failure to Timely Pay or Challenge Automated Traffic Citation
72.04 Notice of Automated Traffic Citation Fines

 

72.01 AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH LOCATION AND MANAGEMENT.

   1.   By its police powers, the City may deploy, erect, or cause to have erected an automated traffic enforcement system for capturing images of motor vehicles that violate traffic laws by failing to obey speed regulations within the city, at locations designated by the Chief of Police or designee.

   2.   The City Council will approve the locations of fixed automated traffic enforcement systems within the city limits. The Chief of Police or designee will determine the locations of mobile automated traffic enforcement systems. The systems will be managed by a private contractor that owns and operates the requisite equipment. The police department shall retain supervisory control over the system. The contractor shall provide photographic and/or video images of any potential violations to the police department to review, and, in the event, that the police department determines a vehicle was operated in violation of the city's traffic control ordinances or Chapter 321 of the Code of Iowa, the police department shall direct that a notice of Automated Traffic Citation be issued to the vehicle owner by this ordinance.

72.02 DEFINITIONS .

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

   1.   “Automated traffic citation” means a notice of fine generated in connection with the automated traffic enforcement system.

   2.   “Automated traffic enforcement contractor” means the company or entity, if any, with which the City of Grinnell contracts to provide equipment and/or services in connection with the Automated Traffic Enforcement System.

   3.   “Automated traffic enforcement system” means an electronic system consisting of a photographic, video, or electronic camera and a vehicle sensor installed to work in conjunction with an official traffic controller or police department employee to automatically produce photographs, video, or digital images of each vehicle violating a standard traffic control device or speed restriction. Notwithstanding the preceding, if the Iowa Department of Transportation or any other state vehicle registration office identifies a person or entity as the lessee of the vehicle, that lessee shall be the vehicle owner for purposes of this ordinance. In the event, that a state registration office does not specify whether a person or entity listed on the registration for the vehicle is the owner or the lessee of the vehicle, any person or entity listed on that vehicle registration may be deemed the vehicle owner and held jointly and severally responsible for a violation of this section.

72.03 VEHICLE OWNER SUBJECT TO CIVIL FINE FOR AUTOMATED TRAFFIC CITATIONS.

   1.   If a vehicle is detected traveling at a speed above the posted limit, the Vehicle Owner shall be subject to a civil fine as scheduled below in § 72.04.

   2.   Exemptions from this ordinance are outlined in § 72.06 and shall not be considered violations for purposes of the Automated Traffic Enforcement System.

   3.   In no event will an Automated Traffic Citation be sent or reported to the Iowa Department of Transportation or similar department of any other state to be added to the Vehicle Owner's driving record.