Video cameras will be installed along streets near schools in Keokuk to help catch speeding drivers.
The Keokuk City Council agreed to the plan after police had monitored traffic near the city’s schools last May.
Police Chief Zeth Baum said officers recorded drivers’ speeds in five areas near the schools and found two of the five zones witnessed frequent speeding.
“It is a significant issue that we're hoping to address with the automated enforcement,” Baum said.
The city has agreed to hire contractor Blue Line to provide and install the cameras.
Police officers will also have a hand-held camera to record drivers’ speeds.
The city will receive 60% of fines collected, and Blue Line will get the other 40%.
The speed limit in school zones is 20 mph. The fines for speeding will vary:
- Those caught driving 5 mph over the limit will be fined $50
- Those clocked at 6 mph to 10 mph over will be fined $75
- Those recorded speeding 11 mph to 15 mph over the limit will be fined $100
- Anyone who exceeds the speed limit by 16 mph or more will face a $300 fine
Baum said police will advertise where the cameras will be installed on its social media.
“I would recommend that they follow our Facebook page for further updates regarding these,” he said. “We will have an informational campaign that will provide any and all information relevant to the automated enforcement.”
Signs will also be posted in the school zones where these cameras will be installed.
Baum said he did not know when the cameras will be installed, but police will be issuing warnings to those drivers who are initially cited.
“There will be a designated warnings period to where people will receive warning citations as opposed to the actual citations,” he said. “That way they can get used to these automated enforcement cameras being in position.”
This move follows a similar decision earlier this year to install cameras along major roadways in southeast Iowa.
Last June, the Lee County Board of Supervisors agreed to hire a contractor to install cameras along the county’s major roadways to help catch drivers who exceed the speed limit.
This move was made after the county monitored traffic and found chronic speeding along Highway 218 near Donnellson, Franklin, and West Point, and along Highway 27 near St. Francisville.
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