Suffolk County Drivers Who Paid Illegal Red Light Camera Fees May Get $36 Refunds Under a $45 Million Settlement on Long Island
County officials say eligible drivers will be contacted directly with instructions, but payments are not expected until next year.
RIVERHEAD, NY — Drivers on Long Island who paid red-light camera fines in Suffolk County could soon get money back under a $45 million class-action settlement tied to the county’s former enforcement program. The refunds come after New York courts ruled that the county’s $30 administrative fee on each ticket was illegal.
The program ended three years ago, but officials said it generated about 300,000 traffic tickets before it was shut down. Attorney David Raimondo, who led the legal challenge, said drivers who paid under the program are expected to receive $36 for each ticket.
What Lawyers Confirmed
Raimondo, a Lake Grove attorney, said the settlement follows a lawsuit first filed in 2016 by his client, PSEG lineman Robert McGrath, on behalf of drivers who challenged Suffolk County’s fees. The county later agreed to settle after the fee was found unlawful in court.
Outside Suffolk traffic court on Wednesday, some drivers said they welcomed the news. Kimberly Jara said she had received what she estimated were about 10 red-light tickets, while Catherine Karis said any refund would help because she is not working.
Why The Case Matters
The dispute centered on whether Suffolk County could add an administrative charge to each red-light camera ticket. Courts said it could not, turning the case into a broad refund fight for anyone who paid qualifying tickets before the program ended.
Christopher Clayton, a lawyer for Suffolk County, said the county was pleased to reach what it considered a fair resolution for the class while also protecting taxpayers. The agreement covers a large number of past tickets and could return money to many drivers who paid the fee years ago.
What Happens Next
County officials said everyone who received a qualifying red-light camera ticket will be contacted directly with instructions for claiming a refund. They said drivers will likely have to wait until next year before the payments are issued.
Raimondo said he is now working to create a similar refund effort in Nassau County. The settlement does not change the fact that Suffolk’s red-light camera program ended years ago, but it does set up a new round of notices and claims for eligible motorists.
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