Commercial carriers and traffic cameras

The Gazette Editorial Board

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At first blush, it doesn't seem fair that thousands of vehicles are able to speed right past traffic cameras without detection because they're not required to carry rear license plates.

Commercial motor carriers, including tour buses and trucks pulling trailers, that are covered by the International Registration Plan often have identifying plates only in front because of the regulations in place.

That means many municipalities' speed cameras — which are set up to take photos of a vehicle's rear — can't capture the information if they speed.

What it doesn't mean is that the cameras should be banned altogether, as some critics have argued.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that several thousand state vehicles outfitted with anonymous license plates also were passing through camera-enforced areas scot free. Because the licenses couldn't be traced in online databases, the companies collecting speeding data and issuing civil penalties weren't able to contact those running the fleet. That scenarios is being review, rightly so.

Now, a recent Gazette investigation revealed that more than 50,000 other vehicles based in Iowa and used for interstate commerce also are eluding the camera lens.

But there are important differences between those large vehicles and the state-owned fleet:

Commercial drivers already have much incentive to drive safely and within the legal speed limit; the threat of having their commercial license suspended or revoked is just one of a bevy of federal regulations they must heed.

Drivers of large vehicles also have considerable safety incentives to keep pace with other traffic — which, in camera-enforced areas, is maintained at a safe and legal speed.

We don't see that the exception poses problem enough to justify offsetting the safety gains communities have made by using cameras. Nor would it be reasonable to ask that vehicles registered under the IRP make changes in their rules to fit individual states or municipalities.

If cities and their residents are concerned about the exception, they can negotiate with camera vendors for a different camera scheme.

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