Hunter
04/22/24
The latest data from the Iowa Department of Transportation shows speeding convictions rose last year, but so did traffic fatalities.
The Gazette reports the number of convictions is down about 17 percent from a decade ago, but law enforcement officials say that data may be misleading. Some are saying it’s due to staff shortages and increased workloads causing reduced enforcement.
377 traffic fatalities were recorded in 2023, the most since 2016. Over 109,000 speeding convictions were documented last year, not counting citations issued by automated traffic cameras.
Some members of the law enforcement community bemoaned the fact that this year’s legislative session put more stipulations on how traffic cameras are used and permitted without addressing a bill that would have cracked down on distracted driving.