The ruling was issued Tuesday by District Court Judge Gary McKenrick, who agreed with the plaintiffs' argument that the city doesn't have the authority to adopt an ordinance that conflicts with the state motor vehicle code.
According to state law, people who speed or run a red light must be issued criminal citations. The city treats citations issued by the cameras as civil matters. Plaintiffs' attorneys also argued the city was breaking state law by issuing the citations to the vehicles' owners instead of the drivers...
Richard Davidson, one of the attorneys representing two drivers ticketed by the system, said he will file a motion in coming weeks to make the case a class-action lawsuit. If approved by a judge, the city may have to refund an estimated 14,000 people who received citations from the
cameras.
City officials said they will meet soon to decide whether to keep the cameras, which have padded the city's coffers. Officials recently announced plans to use $470,000 in camera fine revenue to help fund a new police officer spot, create a juvenile crime unit and increase neighborhood enforcement.
Naturally, the city plans to appeal.
Related: Davenport's Red Light Cameras Earn More Money Than Slot Machines
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