2025 marked the first full calendar year of automated traffic enforcement (ATE) in Iowa since the Iowa Legislature tightened down restrictions on speed and red light systems across Iowa.
On July 1st, 2024, the FDPD submitted applications for 19 locations across Fort Dodge to operate automated traffic enforcement operations. All 19 locations were approved in the last part of September.
Under the new regulations, signage is required at all entrances into the city. This signage was completed in December of 2024. A 30-day grace period was also required to be fulfilled, so ATE operations did not begin until February last year.
During the time from March 1st 2025 through December 31st 2025, a total of 1,365 citations were issued. Two mobile speed cameras were utilized.
Nodding to the original intent of the program, the most effective location for the mobile speed cameras last year was the 1800 block of 6th Avenue North – just East of Duncombe Elementary School. A speed camera was deployed at this location for 18 days in 2025 and issued 402 citations – an average of 22.3 citations per day deployed. Other hot spots include the 1400 block of 20th Avenue North (just West of Village Inn), and the 1800 block of North 32nd Street (where Paragon Avenue from Badger enters into town).
The highest recorded speed was 77 MPH, which occured in the 1300 block of North 22nd Street. The highest recorded speed outside of Duncombe Elementary School was 61 MPH.
In reviewing the data, there was one datapoint that left us scratching our heads – There were 4,925 recorded instances of vehicles logged exceeding the posted by over 11 MPH, however only 1,365 citations were issued. We did reach out to the Fort Dodge Police Department to make sure the data was being interpreted property, but had not yet heard back since posting of this article. We will post an update if we hear back.
The 2025 data did indicate that a mobile speed unit was destroyed by fire on November 21st, 2025. The fire was determined to be arson. Fort Dodge is currently awaiting the arrival of a replacement mobile speed unit.
