Answers: Camera Enforcement

Now that the DOT has ruled some of the Cedar Rapids traffic cameras have to be relocated or removed, what should happen to the citations issued by those cameras?

FROM OUR INBOX

The only ethical thing to do is void the tickets issued by the cameras which have been ordered to be removed. We might as well decide if we'd return all money gotten from them to date and expunge people's driving records.

Michael J.

Cedar Rapids

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As long as the tickets were issued under illegitimate circumstances, the citations should be annulled and the fines refunded with the stern admonition: 'You're off the hook this time speedy, but watch it from now on!”

Lan N.

Cedar Rapids

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It would seem obvious that the money collected from the cameras that have been judged to be in violation should be refunded to the people from whom it was collected. When a utility or other entity is found to have collected money in a way that was not in accordance with set standards, it has traditionally been refunded to the people who were so billed.

There are those who will say that the people who were fined were guilty of violating the law, so it should not matter if they were caught in strict accordance with the rules. The people raising that point should take a look at our justice system wherein the prosecution is held to strict procedural rules that many times allow even felons to have charges dismissed when those rules are not followed.

Since the sole purpose of the cameras has always been safety rather than revenue generation, the refunding of the money should not be a problem. Since it is claimed that traffic now flows more safely, the mission of the cameras has been accomplished. Refunding the money would not alter this achievement.

John R.

Belle Plaine

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FROM FACEBOOK

' Joshua M.: Dismissal of unpaid ones, refund of paid ones. If a trial would be dismissed because evidence was illegally obtained, why wouldn't a citation be overturned?

' Brian M.: I believe the mayor or city manager already said on the news that the tickets will stand. As well they should. If you're caught speeding, tough stuff. It's not like you didn't have a posted sign warning you or anything.

' Jay N.: Any ticket issued by virtue of camera should be dismissed. You have a legal right to face and cross examine your accuser.

' Jen S.: I never paid mine. Maybe they could take the ding off my credit report.

' Carol S.: If I get in an accident caused by someone speeding 15 mph over the speed limit on the s-curves while the cameras are not in compliance, does that mean I was not really injured or not really dead? Speeding is speeding and it is deadly.

' Jerry P.: Cedar Rapids needs to follow the traffic rules just as they would expect of their citizens.

' Joshua B.: I heard these were civil tickets. People actually paid them?

' Doug O.: 13 mph over the speed limit on that stretch of Interstate deserves the fine - move on folks.

' Tracy S.: Well, I'll take my money back please, and thank you.

' Brian B.: The people were breaking the law? The tickets stand.