Traffic Unit

Responsibilities

The Dubuque Police Department’s Traffic Unit is part of the Administration & Staff Services Division.  The Traffic Unit is responsible for enforcement of traffic laws, drug interdiction, traffic safety programs and initiatives, and addressing community concerns regarding traffic safety.  The Traffic Unit currently is not staffed due to a personnel shortage.

Requests

Citizens may request speed shield placement and traffic enforcement in specific areas to address concerns.  The police department can not guarantee that each request will be met due to receiving a significant number of such requests.  All requests will be considered and prioritized based on a number of factors that include, but are not limited to, the location of the request, volume of traffic in the request area, and the volume of requests.  Please contact the Patrol shift commander's office by calling 563-589-4425 to make a request.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the law concerning loud mufflers?

Can I pay a speeding or other traffic ticket online?

How do I retrieve a vehicle that has been impounded/towed?

Traffic Safety Information

Approaching Certain Stationary Vehicles

Iowa Code 321.323A states that the operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying flashing yellow, amber, white, red, or red and blue lights shall approach the authorized emergency vehicle with due caution and shall proceed in one of the following manners, absent any other direction by a peace officer:

  • Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions.
  • If a lane change would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.

A person convicted of a violation is subject to a minimum fine of $100.00 (plus costs).  A person convicted for a violation resulting in death is subject to a fine of $1000.00 (plus costs) and suspension of driving privileges for one year.

Move Over Sign.jpg

Child Passenger Safety

The Dubuque Police Department participates in the Child Passenger Safety Project in an effort to reduce child injury and death caused by motor vehicle crashes.

Construction Zones and Detours

Drivers are reminded that it is against the law to disobey such signage, whether temporary or permanent. Violating construction zone signage & signals can not only result in motorists being ticketed, it more importantly jeopardizes the safety of construction workers within said zones. 

Speeding violations within construction zones start at $267.50 and can go as high as $1,415 (total fine with court cost & surcharge included). Other moving violations within appropriately posted construction zones can be doubled.

Motorists are not only encouraged to abide by the traffic control signs/devices, but should consider taking alternate routes to avoid the construction zones and detours altogether. Motorists are also reminded that driving into a construction zone that is posted “Road Closed To Through Traffic” means that unless you reside or have legitimate business within the zone, you could be cited for driving in or through the zone and fined $195 (total fine with court cost & surcharge included). If a motorist resides or has legitimate business within a construction zone, he/she must take a route (usually a posted detour) that most greatly minimizes the distance traveled within the zone.

Traffic Related Links

Dubuque’s Construction Zones & Detours

Iowa DOT Travel Information

Pay Traffic Tickets Online

Pedestrian Safety (NHTSA, Everyone is a Pedestrian)