POLL: Iowans Favor Traffic Camera Ban; What Do You Think?

Iowans are divided on the issue of red-light and speed cameras, but a slight majority wants them banned, according to the Des Moines Register's newest Iowa Poll.

A bill in the Iowa Legislature would do just that. The bill passed the House Transportation Committee last week, but the Senate is less enthusiastic

Clive, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Davenport, and Des Moines already have cameras. Urbandale city officials have said they are not interested in adding them.

Both Urbandale's legislators oppose the cameras, with state Sen. Brad Zaun being more focused on the issue. Zaun opposes Windsor Heights' plan to add speed cameras on its ten-block stretch of interstate as a move more motivated by a desire for revenue than a needed safety measure. 

Zaun wrote about his position for Patch on Feb. 9 and Windsor Heights Police Chief Dennis McDaniel responded with corrections and rebuttals in the story's comments section.

The Iowa Poll was conducted Feb. 12-15 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points either way -- which is significant given the Iowa Poll shows Iowans oppose red-light cameras by just 4 percentage points and speed cameras by just 5 percentage points.

What do you think?