Anyone who got a red light camera ticket in Suffolk County from 2013 to 2023 is eligible for part of the settlement, up to $180, according to court documents filed Wednesday, July 29.
Suffolk County was adding $30 administrative fees to the $50 red light camera tickets, violating the local law that called for a maximum $50 penalty and $25 late fee, courts ruled.
All drivers who paid the $30 fee are eligible for a refund plus interest, meaning each ticket is redeemable for $36 in the class action — though the settlement caps it at five tickets per person, or $180.
Under the settlement, Suffolk County must create a $45 million pool to cover drivers’ claims and pay $12.5 million in attorney fees, according to court documents. The legal case began in 2016 and took 10 years to conclude.
The deal still needs final approval from a judge, but once it is finalized, people eligible for claims will receive forms in the mail alerting them to the agreement and its details, according to the proposed details.
Additionally, a website will be set up to administer the claims. People will have only 90 days to file a claim once the official notice period begins.
Suffolk County launched the red light cameras in 2013, and the extra fees were ruled illegal in a 2020 court decision. However, the county kept charging the extra $30 through 2023 as it appealed the case, then shut down the cameras in 2024.
Nassau County also created its own red light camera program with even larger fees, but it’s still fighting its case in appeals court. Additionally, Nassau’s cameras remain operational.
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