Posted 1/18/2009 12:47:00 PM by Douglas

This sounds too good to be true. The state refunding money just because it was taken illegally? Who'd a thunk it.

More than 14,000 recipients of red light camera citations in Minneapolis, Minnesota will soon receive a refund. The city this week began mailing notices informing those ticketed that they will be sent a refund check unless they choose to opt out of a class action settlement. US District Court Judge Michael J. Davis has set a February 27 date for a hearing to approve the final repayment details.

The problems for Minneapolis began in 2005 when the city decided to issue red light camera tickets without the sanction of state lawmakers. By April 2007 the Minnesota Supreme Court had ruled that the use of automating ticketing machines violated state law and deprived motorists of due process. The city was forced to end its program for good, but it had no intention of returning the $2.6 million collected from the program.

I'm sure they'll figure out they need to do so the cameras can come back. It's not like a state to turn away a cash cow of this magnitude, no matter how specious it's "safety" argument is.

Labels: red light cameras