Cedar Rapids and two other Iowa cities lost round one in a fight with the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) to keep automated traffic cameras in operation on state highways Thursday.

So now the question for city leaders is what next?

Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Muscatine, the cities involved in the suit, have 30 days to either comply or appeal that ruling in Polk County. Des Moines have already filed a notice of appeal.

In Cedar Rapids, the DOT wants two of the automated cameras on I-380 turned off and two others moved farther than 1,000 feet from a speed zone change. A camera on 1st Avenue N.E. was also too close to a speed zone change but could continue to issue red light violations.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett says that means the city also has to make a decision soon.

However on Friday, Corbett was adamant about thing. Many people think the city might have to issue refunds to people caught by the I-380 automated cameras since the DOT turned down an initial appeal in March of 2015.

However, Corbett insists the city won’t have to pay any refunds and isn’t worried about coming up with millions of dollars for that purpose.

Jim Larew, an Iowa City attorney who represents several people suing the city over traffic camera citations, believes Cedar Rapids is “taking a gamble” by not considering the possibility of refunds should other lawsuits succeed.

Corbett disagrees and says despite this particular ruling in Polk County, the city is not concerned.

“Right now, we don’t think we’re at risk for any of it. Cameras are legal in the state of Iowa. The Supreme Court has ruled, the legislature tried to ban it and failed. So it isn’t a question of if cameras are legal. This technology is permissible. The only question is whether the cameras can be place,” Corbett said.

The mayor anticipates the city council will take up the issue of a possible appeal at the next council meeting on May 9th. Any appeal decision will be made in cooperation with the other cities involved in the suit.