Two more individuals detained in Iowa jails by immigration officials are suing the federal government, alleging their rights are being violated. In recent months, Iowa State Patrol troopers and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have worked together in pulling over commercial truck drivers near weigh stations along Interstate 80 as part of what they […]
Iowa Department of Transportation
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa House votes to make driver’s license exams English-only
The Iowa House approved a bill on Thursday that will make driver’s license exams in the state English-only. The Iowa Department of Transportation currently offers written exams in 21 languages besides English. There are only six states in the country that restrict their driver’s license exams to just English. HF 2102 passed on an almost […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Text scam tries to get people to turn over banking info to settle phony traffic fines
A phishing scam using phony texts that tell recipients they are facing penalties, even prosecution, due to unpaid traffic fines has reached Iowa, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Transportation. “Fraudulent text messages appearing to come from the Iowa DOT or ‘DMV’ are targeting recipients with false claims of unpaid traffic […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Senate sends bill on traffic camera regulation, DOT oversight to governor
A bill regulating — but not banning — traffic camera use by local law enforcement was sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds by the Senate with bipartisan support Monday. House File 2681 passed 46-1 Monday, with Sen. Lynn Evans, R-Aurelia, voting against he measure. The bill gives the Iowa Department of Transportation oversight of how Iowa cities […]
Posted inCommunity/News, COVID-19
Iowa DOT temporarily waives need to renew drivers licenses and vehicle registration
The Iowa Department of Transportation announced it is temporarily waiving the need to renew drivers licenses and vehicle registration, after Gov. Kim Reynolds declared a “State of Public Health Disaster Emergency” on Tuesday. Drivers with a license that expired on Jan. 17 or later do not have to renew their licenses at this time. Similarly, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Bridge construction will shut down part of Governor Street starting Jan. 14
Governor Street between Iowa Avenue and Jefferson Street will be closed to traffic and pedestrians starting Monday at noon, as construction starts on an Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) project that will replace the bridge over Ralston Creek. It’s a DOT project because that stretch of Governor Street is also northbound Highway 1, so maintenance […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Your Village: Zipper merges, how do they work?
Have a question about what’s going on in your community? Ask Little Village. Submit your questions through the Your Village feature on our homepage, or email us at editor@littlevillagemag.com.
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa Supreme Court rules DOT can’t ban traffic cameras
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) does not have the authority to regulate traffic cameras. It was a 6-0 decision in favor of the cities of Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Muscatine, who sued IDOT after the agency ordered automated traffic cameras removed from interstates in Iowa […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Driverless car tests have started on I-380
Highway tests of driverless cars have begun on Interstate 380, between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, Iowa Department of Transportation Director Mark Lowe said in an interview with Radio Iowa earlier this week. But this first phase of the testing is likely to disappoint anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of something futuristic while commuting […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Lawsuits over Cedar Rapids I-380 speed cameras are headed to the Iowa Supreme Court
No city in Iowa has made more money from traffic cameras than Cedar Rapids. But two cases challenging the city’s use of traffic cameras on Interstate 380, which were recently accepted for further review by the Iowa Supreme Court, may change that. If the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs, the city may have to refund some of the fines it has collected. It may also face lawsuits for violating the rights of people ticketed because of the cameras.
