Cameras should be locally owned, operated

Regarding the turning on of the speed cameras on I-380, I feel there are two major concerns all residents of Cedar Rapids and users of the main route through town should be aware of. The cameras are not able to provide fair and equal enforcement becase they capture the rear of the vehicle only. All combination vehicles, tractor trailers, cars and trucks pulling trailers, are exempt because the power unit pulling the trailers cannot be identified.

We also have been told the cameras are for safety, not to create revenue for the city. Yet in the next breath we were told the city has collected $5 million since the cameras were put in use. Of that, $3 million stayed in Cedar Rapids, the other two was sent to the camera vendor in Massachusetts. If we cannot own and operate the cameras, we should not have them.

Certainly someone in Cedar Rapids - or at least in Iowa - can own and operate the cameras and keep the revenue in town. Then we can hire some more needed police officers.

Jerry Mackey

Cedar Rapids