Cedar Rapids camera citation produces questions

Newfound concerns have resulted from my experience with a speeding citation.

I received a camera citation in the mail from the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Even though the picture appeared to show my license plate as I traveled along Interstate 380, I knew my car was parked 60 miles away at the time of the violation.

Fortunately, the last character on my plate is a zero. On Iowa plates the zeros have a diagonal line through the character, but the zero in license plate captured did not. After pointing this out, my citation was canceled. I suspect I would have been forced to pay the fine if not for this lucky break.

While you might assume that because of my experience I am against speed and stop light cameras, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Statistics show they reduce traffic accidents. I've driven through Cedar Rapids many times before and after cameras were installed. Traffic flows more evenly and safely with the cameras.

Some complain the cameras are just revenue generators. But, unlike the other revenue sources, this one is entirely voluntary - if you don't break the law you don't pay a fee.

Despite supporting traffic cameras and based on my experience, I feel the Cedar Rapids system is fatally flawed and should be revamped or shut down.

Quality control appears to be non-existent. I was mailed a citation even though my car was different than what the camera captured, and its license plate was issued by another state. The police department said this mistake was made by human error and could be corrected by the appeal process. I hope they don't have the same cavalier attitude when it comes to police shootings.

The primary problem is that the system's main objective of safety has been compromised by simple greed. Supporters of the Cedar Rapids traffic camera system don't seem to realize that if they keep putting more emphasis on revenue and less on safety than they will soon have neither.

I also believe it is not too late to refocus the cameras on safety. Correct vehicle and license plates must be identified. Errors could be reduced by hiring another person, not associated with the police department, with the power to reject citations the department previously approved. Image quality should be better than a 1970s monochrome security camera.

If the primary objective is safety, drivers need to be notified earlier, with bigger signs and flashing lights. Intersections with red light cameras should have count down timers to give drivers more warning the light is changing.

The rules should also be fair. When I asked for a digital copy of the picture, I was told that since I was contesting the citation I couldn't have a copy. Also, a driver from Council Bluffs has to drive all the way to Cedar Rapids to contest a local citation, but a driver in Omaha can contest the citation by mail.

Traffic cameras are good tools for insuring public safety, but the value of the Cedar Rapids system has been severely compromised by what I see as the greed of those managing it.

' Jim Leverington is a resident of Fayette. Comments: jimleverington@hotmail.com