Citations From Iowa City Trip

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gray4heisman

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Did anyone else receive a citation in the mail for a moving violation (speeding) that was caught via traffic camera in Iowa? My brother and I received TWO in the mail and a family friend also received one this weekend. Blows my mind this is a thing while driving through IOWA.
 

gray4heisman said:
Did anyone else receive a citation in the mail for a moving violation (speeding) that was caught via traffic camera in Iowa? My brother and I received TWO in the mail and a family friend also received one this weekend. Blows my mind this is a thing while driving through IOWA.
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Was it Cedar Rapids? That's a notorious speed trap.
 

It is a notorious camera speedtrap through Cedar Rapids.

Google "Cedar Rapids IA Speed Cameras"to know what happened to you.
 




The only speeding ticket I've ever received was mailed to me from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
 

Just read an article that said, in the first 4 days of using the cameras, 5,137 citations were issued. Also noted that 45% of the citations went unpaid the first year......So do I have to pay this or?
 

Like others, I have gotten a speeding citation going through Cedar Rapids. But remember, usually they only cite the owner of the vehicle who may not be the driver. Therefore, no points should be given by the DMV and it should not impact your insurance rates because there is no proof that you were the actual driver committing the infraction.
 






Panthadad2 said:
Minneapolis tried this a number of years ago. A great citizen took it to the MN Supreme Court and the camera fines were ruled unconstitutional. Lawyers here feel free to correct any errors.
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That's right.

I've no doubt we would have them all over the place if not for that case.
 

The longest ten miles of my life is through Cedar Rapids. Heard about the speed trap years ago from a friend who got a ticket, so I put it on cruise at the speed limit and then impatiently wait to get back "up to speed" once we are through.
 



My Waze app routinely brings up that Cedar Rapids spot as a "speed trap" but I've thought it odd that I never saw a cop there in my dozen or so trips through. Now I know. Cameras.
 

They have signs everywhere when you are driving into Crapids, but I still know dozens of people who got tickets mailed to em a few weeks after driving through it.
 



There are signs all over long before the cameras and.....signs with numbers telling you how fast you can go.
 

I have a friend who got one in Des Moines last year while going to Gopher basketball NCAA tourney game.
 

gray4heisman said:
Sooo.....Do I have to pay these?
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I think I'm correct here, but someone who knows more can offer more.

I think technically, you don't have to pay it. You will have a warrant out for your arrest. So, as long as you never get pulled over in Iowa, or move to Iowa and get an Iowa driver's license, I think you're okay. But, if you get pulled over there, you're going to get taken to jail for a short period and will likely have a bigger fine than if you just send in the money now.

Again, I could be wrong.
 

tjgopher said:
I think I'm correct here, but someone who knows more can offer more.

I think technically, you don't have to pay it. You will have a warrant out for your arrest. So, as long as you never get pulled over in Iowa, or move to Iowa and get an Iowa driver's license, I think you're okay. But, if you get pulled over there, you're going to get taken to jail for a short period and will likely have a bigger fine than if you just send in the money now.

Again, I could be wrong.
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This is also my non-lawyer understanding of the situation as well.
 

A_Slab_of_Bacon said:
As your duly appointed internet lawyer I recommend you do not pay them and buy some billboard space near Cedar Rapids advertising that you are not going to pay them.

Also keep us up to date how that works out for you.
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I'd like to also add that your invoice is on the way...
 



should have read Gopherhole, i warned everyone about the Cedar Rapids speed trap.
 

I'd be shocked if you actually get a warrant issued for not paying a ticket like this. They have these cameras in Denver and I stopped paying them after awhile. Worst-case, they'll send you a letter with a late fee for not paying the fine or threaten to send it to collections. But if they are like the Denver ones, they are not actually enforceable (no points or no record). It's a way for them to try and get bonus money from the people who actually pay. But again, for the Denver ones, I left at least 3 unpaid and years later there was no follow-up and I definitely have not been arrested.
 

I'll send in my $150 but this is a cheap way for Iowa to boost their traffic accrued revenue prior to year end. I guess you live and you learn...
 


gray4heisman said:
Did anyone else receive a citation in the mail for a moving violation (speeding) that was caught via traffic camera in Iowa? My brother and I received TWO in the mail and a family friend also received one this weekend. Blows my mind this is a thing while driving through IOWA.
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Send the ticket back with a note “This person is deceased” ?
 

WriterGoph said:
I'd be shocked if you actually get a warrant issued for not paying a ticket like this. They have these cameras in Denver and I stopped paying them after awhile. Worst-case, they'll send you a letter with a late fee for not paying the fine or threaten to send it to collections. But if they are like the Denver ones, they are not actually enforceable (no points or no record). It's a way for them to try and get bonus money from the people who actually pay. But again, for the Denver ones, I left at least 3 unpaid and years later there was no follow-up and I definitely have not been arrested.
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If you are an outstater, there really are no repercussions to not paying it, other than having it tacked on to any other fines (plus late fees) if you get in legal trouble in Iowa later. If you are a resident though, they will hold your tax refund until you clear the ticket.

There's already been a lawsuit like the one in Minneapolis, but the Iowa plaintiff lost.
 

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