Iowa House Bill HF313

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/15/23
• Refer: 2/15/23

Caption

A bill for an act relating to moneys received from citations issued using an automated or remote system for traffic law enforcement.

Impact

The legislation is expected to influence state laws regarding traffic enforcement by clearly delineating how funds from automated citations are to be handled. Local governments will need to adapt to the new reporting requirements, which stipulate that they must submit monthly financial statements detailing all moneys received and spent related to the automated systems. This new level of transparency around funding is intended to promote accountability in the management of public funds and ensure that they are used for intended purposes within transportation infrastructure.

Summary

House File 313 pertains to the management of funds generated from citations issued through automated or remote traffic enforcement systems. The bill mandates that any excess moneys collected from these citations must be deposited into the state’s road use tax fund, which is established for infrastructure and road maintenance. Local authorities are still allowed to retain a portion of the collected funds, sufficient to cover the operational costs of the automated traffic enforcement systems. This provision aims to ensure that funds are effectively utilized for public infrastructure while regulating excess revenue generation.

Contention

A point of contention inherent in this bill involves the balance of control between state and local authorities in managing traffic enforcement and the associated financial structures. Critics of the bill might argue that it could jeopardize the revenue local municipalities rely on for maintaining their traffic systems, particularly if they are constrained by the requirement to transfer excess funds to the state treasury. They could also raise concerns about the sufficiency of the funds retained for local operations, worrying that this may compel localities to reduce enforcement activities or delay necessary investments in traffic safety measures.