Motorists busted by PhotoCop receive refund notices

Red light camera
A red light camera in Minneapolis. The cameras are still in place even though the Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered them not allowable.
MPR photo/Tom Weber

Motorists who received tickets under Minneapolis' PhotoCop program can expect to receive refunds in the next two-to-three months.

A class action lawsuit was filed after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled the system of ticketing was illegal.

Attorney Marshall Tanick says about 15,000 people are receiving notices this week alerting them that they're entitled to refunds that should arrive in the next few months.

Tanick says the typical refund will be about $150.

"They're also getting a removal from their driving record of any points that were scored against them for this offense. And also everyone is getting a letter to send to their insurance company in the event of people having an increase in their insurance premiums - which we understand did happen to some people - they are getting a letter that will apprise the insurance company to roll back any premium increases," Tanick said.

Minneapolis used the PhotoCop program for eight months beginning in 2005.

Under the system, vehicle owners received tickets based on photographic record of the vehicle running a red light.

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