Bill Would Legalize Speed Safety Cameras In Minnesota

ST. PAUL, MN — More than 15 years after the Minnesota Supreme Court put the kibosh on Minneapolis' "photo cop" program, the technology might be making a comeback.

A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate by five Democrats would authorize state and local authorities to use speed safety cameras for traffic enforcement.

Contrary to common belief, the state Supreme Court has never said that traffic enforcement cameras are unconstitutional. It did rule in 2007, however, that Minneapolis' photo cop ordinance violated a Minnesota law requiring all traffic regulations to be uniform across the state.

But legislation passed at the state level wouldn't have that problem.

Under Senate File 2026, the owner or lessee of a vehicle that is caught going above the speed limit by a camera system is guilty of a petty misdemeanor and must pay a fine of up to $80.

Exceptions include if the vehicle was stolen at the time of the violation. Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and other authorized emergency vehicles are exempted if they are "in the performance of official duties at the time of the violation."

The legislation was put forward after both the city of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Transportation showed renewed interest in traffic-enforcement cameras.

Why speed safety cameras?

A 2022 MnDOT report found that crashes in work zones are increasing statewide, and "simply lowering the posted speeds will not change driver behavior, because drivers will reduce speeds only if they perceive a need to do so."

Between 2018 and 2020, Minnesota recorded 7,403 work zone crashes. Of those, 122 of the crashes caused a death or a serious injury to either a worker, driver, or someone else, authorities said.

And Minneapolis officials say that between 2017 and 2021, an average of 150 people each year suffered life-changing injuries or were killed in traffic crashes on the city's streets. In 2021, speeding was a factor in 65 percent of fatal crashes, according to officials.

The Federal Highway Administration says speed cameras can reduce injury crashes by up to 47 percent on busy streets. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives automated enforcement its highest effectiveness rating.

Speed cameras also eliminate the need for "officer interaction," a Minneapolis report noted. The city said it will prioritize equity and privacy in any speed camera program it implements.

Minneapolis was involved in crafting HF4242 last session, a bill the city said "includes best practices to protect privacy, ensure fairness, and support equity."

The bill did not pass, "but did have a positive House committee hearing." The measure faces better odds this session, with Democrats on board and in full control of the Minnesota Legislature.

Nineteen states and Washington D.C. use cameras to reduce speeding. The technology is deployed through:

• "Fixed units," or one stationary camera looking at one location
• "Point-to-Point" units, where multiple cameras are used to capture average speed over a certain distance
• "Mobile units," or portable cameras mounted in a car or trailer

Critics of camera enforcement technology cite privacy concerns, particularly around the photographs taken for evidence. Opponents also say the cameras can cause people to suddenly slam on the brakes when they spot one at an intersection, potentially causing a crash.

Editor's note: A previous version of this article misstated the number of authors of the bill.