Several Iowa communities use pole-mounted cameras to catch motorists who run red lights, but Davenport will become the first city in the state to use that technology to catch speeders. Starting today (Tuesday), the city will start using lasers and digital cameras to clock speeders, snap pictures of the drivers and their license plates and send citations in the mail.
Jack Weaver is spokesman for RedFlex, the Arizona-based company that’s providing the cameras and equipment. Weaver says many products claim to make a car immune to the technology. Weaver says the protective prism license plate covers that cost 110-dollars don’t work, while the spray-on chemicals that claim to make your plate invisible to digital cameras only -enhance- the picture.
Davenport Police Chief Mike Bladel says the “automated speed enforcement system” is being provided by RedFlex, which will be paid on a per-ticket basis. He says the city hasn’t invested any city tax money in the program but will certainly see benefits from it. Bladel says it’ll be a ticket for 12-miles or more over the speed limit for the first 90 days and ten and over after that.
The cameras will be set up in areas or intersections where speeding is a problem. Bladel says the focus is on safety. Bladel says the goal is to prevent accidents and fatalities. He says it’ll free up officers to respond to other calls while enhancing public safety. He says there will be warning signs near the cameras and the tickets do not go on a driver’s record.