<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-08-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000943034</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IMAGE SENSING SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ISNS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001544509</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AB Value Management LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>84 ELM STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07090</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.1 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5150</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.1704</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>806908</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.1 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5985</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.2008</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>812893</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents 2,575 Shares of Common Stock purchased directly by AB Value Partners, LP and 2,575 Shares of Common Stock AB Value Management LLC had caused the Managed Account to directly purchase.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents 425,934 Shares of Common Stock owned directly by AB Value Partners, LP, 380,974 Shares of Common Stock AB Value Management LLC had caused its Managed Account to directly own.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This Form 4 is filed jointly by AB Value Management LLC, AB Value Management LLC's Managed Account, AB Value Partners, LP, and Andrew Berger (&quot;Mr. Berger&quot;). By virtue of their relationships with AB Value Partners, LP, each of AB Value Management LLC and Mr. Berger may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned by AB Value Partners, LP and the Managed Account.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Represents 2,993 Shares of Common Stock purchased directly by AB Value Partners, LP and 2,992 Shares of Common Stock AB Value Management LLC had caused the Managed Account to directly purchase.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Represents 428,927 Shares of Common Stock owned directly by AB Value Partners, LP, 383,966 Shares of Common Stock AB Value Management LLC had caused its Managed Account to directly own.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">This Form 4 is filed jointly by AB Value Management LLC, AB Value Management LLC's Managed Account, AB Value Partners, LP, and Andrew Berger (&quot;Mr. Berger&quot;). By virtue of their relationships with AB Value Partners, LP, each of AB Value Management LLC and Mr. Berger may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned by AB Value Partners, LP and the Managed Account.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: AB Value Partners, LP By: AB Value Management LLC, General Partner By: /s/ Andrew Berger, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: AB Value Management LLC, By: /s/ Andrew Berger, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Andrew Berger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-08-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
