DOT may shift motor-vehicle enforcement officers to public safety

Branstad administration officials are exploring a proposal to merge the Iowa Department of Transportation's motor-vehicle enforcement duties with the Department of Public Safety with an eye on improving road safety and integrating services in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

The plan would shift up to 106 DOT law officers -- whose primary jobs are to enforce weight requirements, equipment safety and other laws pertaining to the commercial trucking industry operating on highways in Iowa -- into the DPS, which includes the Iowa State Patrol, where troopers enforce overall traffic laws and assist in many more general law enforcement functions.

Tim Albrecht, spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad, confirmed Tuesday that state Public Safety Commissioner Larry Noble and DOT Director Paul Trombino III have discussed integrating the so-called DOT “blue coat” motor vehicle enforcement responsibilities within the DPS for the purposes of improving public safety on Iowa roadways “while saving both general fund and road use tax fund dollars through better integration of communications, facilities, purchasing, and personnel.”

“The governor is aware of these discussions, but has not yet approved any specific plan to move forward and respects the fact that any move in this direction will require the consent and approval of the General Assembly,” Albrecht said in a statement.

He noted that the governor has encouraged all of state department directors to look for opportunities to more closely collaborate and integrate service delivery where it makes sense, particularly in cases where the proposed changes both would improve service delivery and reduce the cost to taxpayers.

Sen. Eugene Fraise, D-Fort Madison, a member of the House-Senate justice systems budget subcommittee, said he has opposed such a merger even though he believes the DOT officers support the move because he is concerned it would distract them from their core enforcement duties.

“I don't think that ought to happen,” Fraise said. “That's kind of a shock to me that they would do that.”

Fraise questioned whether the merger could move forward without legislative approval and he expected “there certainly will be some discussion about it” among state lawmakers and Branstad administration officials.

“There's plenty of work out there for them to do that without them getting over into law enforcement and then wind up having to spend the day in court testifying there instead of being out on the road doing their job,” Fraise said. “I've always resisted that.”

Officials within the DPS and DOT agencies were not immediately available for comment Tuesday.