WEBSTER CITY — The warning period for Webster City’s automatic speed enforcement cameras, which were turned on about a month ago, has ended.

Now, if you speed excessively in the two locations where the cameras are staged, you will be fined.

The warning period ended at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

There are two sites being monitored by the new automated speed enforcement program:

One is on Iowa Highway 17 south of Webster City between Closz Drive and Millards Lane; the second is along U.S. 20 near the Webster City water tower. In each of these locations, there are cameras on both sides of the roadway.

“Owners of a vehicle caught speeding will receive a civil notice of violation in the mail,” Webster City Police Chief Shiloh Mork said in a media release.

“These tickets are not reported to the vehicle owner’s insurance company or reported against their driver’s license. Only those vehicles traveling in excess of 11 mph over the speed limit will receive a violation notice. Violation penalties begin at $105 and increase based upon the severity of the offense.

“Every potential violation captured by the system is reviewed by a Webster City police representative before being processed and mailed. The fine schedule is below:

“11-15 over the posted speed limit $105.00 plus court costs;

“16-20 over the posted speed limit $120.00 plus court costs;

“21 or more over the posted speed limit $135.00 plus court costs and an additional $5 for each mile per hour over.”

Mork said owners wishing to appeal their violation can do so by requesting an administrative hearing with the city.

“The Webster City Police Department wants to clarify that while the automated speed enforcement cameras issue citations for violations of 11 miles per hour or over, the speed limits are posted and law enforcement officers may issue citations for any violations.

“To avoid all citations, obey the posted speed limits.”

Sensys Gatso, a Swedish firm that operates worldwide and with offices in Marion, Iowa, installed the system. The city’s agreement with Sensys Gatso was made on April 17, 2023.

There was no upfront cost to implement the system. Revenue from paid violations will be shared between Sensys Gatso and the City of Webster City.

Mork said: “According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — IIHS — “more than 12,000 deaths — 29 percent of all crash fatalities — occurred in speed-related crashes in 2021. High speeds make a crash more likely because drivers have less time to react and because it requires a longer distance to stop or slow down. They also make collisions more deadly because modest increases in speed cause large increases in crash energy.”