Are Speed and Red Light Cameras Now Coming to Minnesota?
A proposal to legalize both red light cameras and speed cameras here in Minnesota was introduced in the state legislature earlier this year. But is that bill set to become law in Minnesota?
The clock is ticking on the 2024 Minnesota Legislative Session. By law, the session is limited to just 120 days, and is set to end by May 20th, 2024. So is a bill that would allow cities and counties across the state to put up red light and speed cameras going to become law?
A bill earlier this year would have allowed just about any city or county in the Land of 10,000 Lakes to put up those automated cameras that would issue tickets to drivers who were either speeding or had run a red light.
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But according to this Fox 9 story, the Minnesota Senate scaled that bill down and passed a revised version that would give the green light to a four-year pilot program that would take place in just four areas: Minneapolis, Mendota Heights and another city and county yet to be determined by state leaders.
The story said photo enforcement would be based on an area's population, with the most-- 42 cameras-- being allowed in Minneapolis. However, the story also noted that Minnesota's largest city said they would start with just 10 cameras and eventually 'scale up.'
If the pilot program passes the Legislature, how much will you have to pay if you're caught on camera violating the law? This CBS-Minnesota story has the details:
Both red light and speed camera violations would carry a $40 fine and it would double to $80 if a driver is going 20 miles over the speed limit.
Both stories said the goal of the program is to gather local data on how effective cameras are on making roads safer in Minnesota. Right now, the Governor's Highway Safety Association says 24 other states already have laws on the books legalizing both speed and red light cameras.
Would YOU be in favor of legalizing these cameras across the North Star State? While I'm all for safer roads and highways, I'm not sure I like the notion of another overhead camera watching our every move-- and handing out tickets if you're going a little too fast. What do YOU think?
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