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Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violation Agency agreed to a $45 million settlement resolving a decade-long lawsuit over illegal $30 administrative fees added to red-light camera tickets.
If you paid a traffic ticket issued by a red-light camera in Suffolk County, New York, over the past decade, you may have money waiting for you. Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violation Agency have agreed to a $45 million class action settlement to resolve allegations that the county unlawfully added a $30 administrative fee onto red-light camera citations.
The settlement brings an end to ten years of intense litigation over the controversial traffic enforcement program. Affected drivers can receive up to $36 per ticket—representing a full refund of the $30 administrative fee plus $6 in statutory interest—for up to five tickets per person.
Court documents show that postcards containing unique Class Member IDs were mailed to eligible drivers starting September 9, 2026. Affected consumers now have a limited window to file a claim online or by mail before legal deadlines expire.
The long-running class action lawsuit was originally filed in 2016 by driver advocacy groups and local motorists represented by legal counsel. Plaintiffs argued that when Suffolk County launched its automated red-light camera program in 2013, it violated state and local traffic laws by imposing an mandatory $30 “administrative fee” on top of the standard $50 red-light fine.
Under New York State law, the maximum allowable penalty for a red-light camera citation was $50, with late fees capped at $25. New York state courts ultimately sided with drivers in a landmark 2020 ruling, declaring the extra $30 fee illegal because local governments lacked statutory authority to tack administrative surcharges onto automated traffic fines.
Despite the judicial ruling, Suffolk County continued collecting the $30 fee while appealing the decision, generating millions of dollars in extra revenue. The county finally stopped charging the fee in January 2023 following appellate rulings, and the entire red-light camera program was officially shut down in December 2024.
While Suffolk County has denied any wrongdoing or liability, county officials agreed to establish a $45 million cash settlement pool to resolve the claims, provide refunds, and avoid the unpredictability of further court proceedings.
You may be eligible to participate in the settlement if you meet the following criteria:
You are an individual or business entity that received a red-light camera ticket in Suffolk County, New York.
You paid a $30 administrative fee on top of your fine for a violation that occurred between April 1, 2013, and the present.
Court records indicate that approximately 300,000 traffic tickets were issued during the program’s operation, affecting hundreds of thousands of Long Island drivers and visitors.
If Suffolk County’s records show that you paid the administrative fee during the eligible timeframe, a notice postcard should have been sent to your address on file starting in early September 2026. This postcard includes a personalized Class Member ID required to submit your claim.
The settlement establishes a $45 million cash fund dedicated exclusively to driver refunds. Under the court-approved payment structure:
Refund Amount: Class members can receive up to $36 per violation ($30 fee refund plus $6 in accrued interest).
Maximum Claim Cap: Payouts are capped at a maximum of five tickets per driver, meaning eligible consumers can claim up to $180 total.
Pro Rata Adjustments: If the total dollar amount of valid claims submitted exceeds the $45 million limit, individual payments may be reduced proportionally.
Unlike many settlements that require receipts or court records, drivers do not need to hunt down old physical ticket stubs if they received an official postcard notice, as county billing records verify past payments.
Local governments have an obligation to comply with state legislation and statutory pricing limits when levying fines, fees, and surcharges on citizens. Under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, local municipalities are strictly prohibited from inventing unauthorized fees that exceed state-mandated caps on traffic penalties.
When local governments impose illegal surcharges, class action lawsuits serve as a critical legal mechanism for everyday citizens to challenge unconstitutional municipal fees, hold public agencies accountable, and recover unlawful collections.
This settlement follows similar litigation across Long Island and broader New York, sending a clear legal precedent that local governments cannot use automated enforcement programs as unchecked revenue streams at the expense of local motorists.
To receive a cash refund under the Suffolk County red-light camera settlement, class members must strictly adhere to the schedule set by the court:
Notice Mailing Date: Notices began mailing on September 9, 2026.
Opt-Out / Exclusion Deadline: November 9, 2026 (Deadline to opt out if you wish to retain your right to sue Suffolk County individually).
Objection Deadline: November 9, 2026 (Deadline to submit written objections to the settlement terms).
Claim Filing Deadline: December 8, 2026 (Online claims must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET; mailed claims must be postmarked by this date).
Final Approval Hearing: December 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET (The court will determine whether to grant final approval to the settlement).
Submitting a claim is completely free, and you do not need to hire your own attorney to receive your payment. Follow these steps to complete your claim:
Locate Your Postcard Notice: Check your mail for the official postcard notice sent by Kroll Settlement Administration. Locate your unique Class Member ID printed on the postcard.
Submit Online (Fastest): Visit the official court-approved settlement website at www.SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com. Click “Submit Claim,” enter your Class Member ID and contact information, and follow the prompts to complete the form by 11:59 p.m. ET on December 8, 2026.
Submit by Mail: If you prefer paper, complete the claim form attached to your postcard notice (or download a printable form from the settlement website) and mail it to the settlement administrator, postmarked no later than December 8, 2026.
Missing Class ID? If you believe you paid an administrative fee between April 1, 2013, and 2023 but did not receive a postcard or do not know your Class Member ID, contact Kroll Settlement Administration at (833) 447-6790 to verify your records.
Payouts will be distributed after the court grants final approval during the December 8, 2026 hearing and after any potential appeals are resolved.
Unlawful government surcharges take money directly out of the pockets of everyday working people. You don’t stand alone when fighting improper municipal fees.
If you paid red-light camera administrative fees in Suffolk County between 2013 and 2023, take a few minutes to locate your postcard or visit www.SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com to submit your claim before the December 8, 2026 deadline.
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