Lawsuit seeks refund of 20,000-plus Iowa traffic tickets

More than 20,000 tickets written by the Iowa Department of Transportation were illegally issued, a situation that obligates the state to refund the fines and remove the wrongful convictions from motorists' records, according to a new court filing seeking class-action status against the state.

If successful, Iowa could be on the hook to repay millions of dollars in fines and court costs dating back five years.

Tuesday’s court filing builds upon an ongoing legal battle launched earlier this year after a DOT officer issued a speeding ticket to 16-year-old Peyton Atzen, a student at Southeast Polk High School.

Atzen and his family successfully argued in Polk County District Court that Iowa law limits officers outside of the state’s public safety department from enforcing most moving violations. His ticket was dismissed.

Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2016/11/22/lawsuit-seeks-refund-20000-plus-iowa-traffic-tickets/94286348/