CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Drivers on I-380 in Cedar Rapids are on notice that the robo-cop tickets will be coming again, soon.
In his State of the City Address this week, Mayor Brad Hard didn't give the exact date, but does say the City will give public notice and a 30-day grace period for drivers to adjust.
The city stopped issuing tickets from the automated traffic cameras in 2017 after a challenge by the Iowa Department of Transportation. The Iowa Supreme Court determined that the DOT had no jurisdiction to order the City to stop using the cameras. A class action lawsuit was also filed, and later dismissed.
Last November, Cedar Rapids police announced a plan to resume issuing speeding citations and use the money to hire 10 more officers. KCRG-TV 9 reports the plan still needs city council approval.
Mayor Hart said he's hearing overwhelming calls to turn the cameras back on.
"If 50 people have talked to me about the cameras, 49 have said please turn the cameras back on," Hart told the crowd at the Doubletree Convention Center in downtown Cedar Rapids. "And the one who doesn't like them doesn't live in Cedar Rapids."
With the I-380 cameras off, Police say the speeds of traffic and number of crashes has increased. It's also meant about $4 million less for the city in revenue from the cameras.