AP: Iowa Exempts Officials from Traffic Camera Violations.
More than 3,200 Iowa license plates issued to local, state and federal agencies are exempt from the enforcement of traffic and red-light cameras. The AP broke the story with a Freedom of Information Act request. It reports:
A recent speeding incident involving Gov. Terry Branstad‘s state SUV inadvertently revealed how cities give a break to some government vehicles caught on red-light and speed cameras, which are increasingly being used to enforce traffic laws and generate revenue. Several cities said they would not issue tickets to the drivers of Branstad’s or some other government vehicles that have a special designation in which their plates are not in police databases.
The taste for privilege among many officials transcends party, ideology and geography.