Minneapolis, MN: (May-16-08) A class action lawsuit was brought against the city of Minneapolis, by drivers who were ticketed and fined as a result of the city' s photo surveillance system. The suit stated that the city's photo surveillance program used images of vehicles that ran red lights to cite the owner of the vehicle. Court papers show that the Minnesota Supreme Court last year backed lower courts, which had ruled that holding the owner of a vehicle responsible for the actions of whoever was driving it was unconstitutional.
In a settlement that was negotiated as part of the class action dispute, the city Council approved a $2.6 million agreement, which would go towards offering refunds and expungements to vehicle owners over PhotoCop. City officials estimate that around 15,000 drivers, who were nabbed by the photo surveillance system, stand to be affected by the agreement.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the proposed $2.6 million settlement would reimburse roughly 15,000 drivers who got tickets under the program, and paid $142 each. Legal fees and other costs will be subtracted from the payout. [
