DES MOINES – Branstad administration officials are exploring a
proposal to merge the Iowa Department of Transportation’s
motor-vehicle enforcement duties with the Department of Public
Safety with an eye on improving road safety and integrating
services in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

The plan would shift up to 106 DOT law
officers — whose primary jobs are to enforce weight requirements,
equipment safety and other laws pertaining to the commercial
trucking industry operating on highways in Iowa — into the DPS,
which includes the Iowa State Patrol where troopers enforce overall
traffic laws and assist in many more general law enforcement
functions.

Tim Albrecht, spokesman for Gov. Terry
Branstad, confirmed Tuesday that state Public Safety Commissioner
Larry Noble and DOT Director Paul Trombino III have discussed
integrating the so-called DOT “blue coat” motor vehicle enforcement
responsibilities within the DPS for the purposes of improving
public safety on Iowa roadways “while saving both general fund and
road use tax fund dollars through better integration of
communications, facilities, purchasing, and personnel.”

“The governor is aware of these
discussions, but has not yet approved any specific plan to move
forward and respects the fact that any move in this direction will
require the consent and approval of the General Assembly,” Albrecht
said in a statement.

He noted that the governor has encouraged
all of state department directors to look for opportunities to more
closely collaborate and integrate service delivery where it makes
sense, particularly in cases where the proposed changes both would
improve service delivery and reduce the cost to taxpayers.

Sen. Eugene Fraise, D-Fort Madison, a
member of the House-Senate justice systems budget subcommittee,
said he has opposed such a merger even though he believes the DOT
officers support the move because he is concerned it would distract
them from their core enforcement duties.

“I don’t think that ought to happen,”
Fraise said. “That’s kind

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