Iowa Red Light Camera
In Iowa, you could be fined $100 or more if a red light camera captures footage of you illegally driving through an intersection.
Written by Samuel Todd
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- Are red light cameras legal in Iowa?
- What should I do if I receive a red light camera ticket?
- How does a red light camera work?
- How to find cheap car insurance in Iowa
- FAQs
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In Iowa, a red light camera ticket could cost you $100 or more, so it’s important to know how to pay or fight the ticket.
Currently, 22 states use red light cameras to capture footage of traffic violations. Although these cameras help to keep the roads safer, they sometimes make mistakes—and nobody wants to get stuck with a fine that they don’t deserve.
Whether you just want to pay your traffic ticket or you’re hoping to fight the ticket in court, we’re here to help.
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Are red light cameras legal in Iowa?
Yes. Although there has been
recent pressure
to limit the use of red light cameras in Iowa, they are still legal and active in some regions of the state.If you’re driving through any of these major cities, keep an eye out for red light cameras at intersections:
To double-check whether there are red light cameras in your hometown, you can contact the local government.
What should I do if I receive a red light camera ticket?
If you receive a red light ticket in Iowa, you’ve got two main options: pay the ticket or fight the ticket. Before you choose which route to take, we’ll take a look at the possible penalty you’ll be facing:
- Generally, a red light violation from a camera will cost you about $100 in total ($195 if the ticket is issued by an officer)
- If your violation resulted in serious injury to another person, there will be an additional $500 fine and potential license suspension
- If your violation resulted in the death of another person, there will be an additional $1,000 fine, license suspension, and potentially other charges (like reckless driving or vehicular homicide)
For most run-of-the-mill red light camera tickets, though, the fine will be more manageable, and you’ll have to decide whether to pay it or contest it in court. Here’s a walk-through of both options.
How to pay a red light camera ticket
Paying a red light camera ticket is pretty simple: you can pay online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Whichever option you choose, make sure to have the information on your ticket handy. You have 30 days to pay your traffic ticket, so it’s best to get ahead of the game with a quick payment!
If you’re struggling to find the money for your ticket,
contact the court
—you should be able to set up a payment plan that will help you handle the fine.How to fight a red light camera ticket
If you think your red light ticket was a mistake and you’d like to have it dismissed, you can send in the “appeal request form” on the citation. Someone from the legal team will reach out to you and set up an appeal date. Court dates are crucial, so be sure to mark and underline them on your calendar!
Next, you’ll want to gather evidence that will support your case. Examples of this evidence include:
- Any video evidence of the incident
- Witness reports in your favor
- Proof that the red light camera malfunctioned
If you’re serious about getting your ticket dismissed and you can afford it, you should consider hiring a traffic attorney. They can help you build your case and set you on the road towards winning your appeal.
Key Takeaway You can pay your red light camera ticket online, by phone, by mail, or in person. If you’d rather fight the ticket, you should start gathering evidence in your defense and think about hiring a traffic attorney.
How does a red light camera work?
Red light cameras take pictures and videos of cars that pass through city intersections. They’re paired with the sensors in the traffic lights, so they know exactly when a light turns red.
If you zip through an intersection on a red light, these cameras will snap a photo of your car and your license plate along with some other information:
- How fast you were going
- Location
- Date and time
- How long the light had been red when you entered the intersection
Law enforcement agencies use the data that’s stored on these cameras to figure out when they should ticket somebody for running a red, making an illegal turn, or (in some cities) for speeding.
Although red light cameras make the roads less dangerous—a study by the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
found that they reduce fatal crashes at major intersections by 14%—there has been some push-back against them on the grounds that they are unconstitutional.How to find cheap car insurance in Iowa
Nobody wants to see their insurance premiums spike, especially after paying a hefty fine for a traffic violation. If you’re worried about the financial impact of your ticket, we’re here to help.
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Reviewed on 5/28/2023
FAQs
How do I know if a red light camera ticket is real?
Keep an eye out for suspicious or missing information on a ticket, as well as any requests for confidential information. Red light tickets will come in the mail, so if you receive one in an e-mail, be wary. Remember, you can always double-check with the court to verify that the ticket you received is legit.
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