March 28, 2024

State argues against lawsuit over officers’ ticketing power

DES MOINES — The state of Iowa says it would damage public safety if the state were forced to refund traffic fines and remove wrongful convictions from motorists’ records. The state made those assertions in documents made public Wednesday as it asked the Polk County District Court to reject an effort to certify as a class action a lawsuit against the state. The lawsuit cites a judge’s ruling that the Iowa Transportation Department didn’t have authority to issue a speeding ticket to a 16-year-old driver.