A sign alerts drivers to the presence of new automated traffic control cameras south of Webster City on Iowa Highway 17. The new speed enforcement cameras go live at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The cameras can be seen in the background.The other set of cameras is sited along U.S. Highway 20 in the Webster City city limits. Those cameras are near the city's water tower just south of U.S. 20 and east of its junction with Iowa 17.

Webster City’s automatic speed enforcement cameras will go live just after midnight. In other words, at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

There are two sites being monitored by the new automated speed enforcement program:

One is on Iowa Highway 17 south of Webster City between Closz Drive and Millards Lane;

The second is along U.S. 20 near the Webster City water tower.

In each of these locations, there are cameras on both sides of the roadway.

Webster City Police Chief Shiloh Mork said in a media release Monday that “the first 30 days of the program will be a warning and community awareness period.”

Sensys Gatso, a Swedish firm that operates worldwide and with offices in Marion, Iowa, installed the system. The city’s agreement with Sensys Gatso was made on April 17, 2023.

There was no upfront cost to implement the system. Revenue from paid violations will be shared between Sensys Gatso and the City of Webster City.

Webster City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez said the revenue that comes to the city will be applied in the following ways:

First, it will be used to support the Webster City Police Department whose manpower will be tasked with reviewing camera footage and processing the results.

Second, it will fund public safety equipment.

Third, it will support public safety operations.

Fourth, the monies will go into a general services category.

Eventually, there is the possibility of traffic enforcement camera revenue also being used to increase manpower at the WCPD, Ortiz-Hernandez said. That will depend on the workload the camera system will create, he said.

After the 30-day grace period, here are the fines speeders can expect to see. These fines for speeding violations were adopted by the Webster City Council at its meeting July 3, 2023.

Speed Over Limit:

1 to 5 mph over the speed limit, $30 (this level of speeding will not come under speed camera review);

6 to 10 mph over the speed limit, $55 (this level of speeding will not come under speed camera review);

11 to 15 mph over the speed limit, $105;

16 to 20 mph over the speed limit, $120;

For each mile in excess of 20 mph over speed limit: $135 plus $5.

The installation of the cameras at the locations in Webster City was permitted by the Iowa Department of Transportation, Mork said in his media release.

“Following the warning period, owners of a vehicle caught speeding will receive a civil notice of violation in the mail. These tickets are not reported to the vehicle owner’s insurance company or reported against their driver’s license.

“Only those vehicles traveling in excess of 10 mph over the speed limit will receive a violation notice. Violation penalties begin at $105 and increase based upon the severity of the offense; every potential violation captured by the system is reviewed by a Webster City police representative before being processed and mailed,” Mork said.

“Owners wishing to appeal their violation can do so by requesting an administrative hearing with the city.”

Mork added, “Independent studies have found that automated speed enforcement can reduce speeding violations by as much as 88% thereby making the streets and highways monitored safer.

“According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “More than 12,000 deaths — 29 % of all crash fatalities — occurred in speed-related crashes in 2021. High speeds make a crash more likely because drivers have less time to react and because it requires a longer distance to stop or slow down. They also make collisions more deadly because modest increases in speed cause large increases in crash energy.”