SF3656

Purpose

This bill would make permanent and expand Minnesota’s traffic safety camera program (red light and speed cameras) by modifying how the program works, who能 run it, where it can operate, and how violations are processed. It sets a defined pilot program window and aims to improve road safety through camera enforcement, while adding rules for public outreach, data privacy, and the dispute process.

Key Provisions at a Glance

• What the bill does

  • Modifies penalties for red light and speed camera violations, creates an option for diversion with a traffic safety course, and lays out when fines apply.
  • Establishes a formal traffic safety camera pilot program that operates from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2029, with specific authorities allowed to run it.
  • Expands definitions to cover “camera-based traffic enforcement” (red light and speed cameras) and clarifies roles for the implementing authorities.
  • Requires public engagement, signage at monitoring sites, and information campaigns about the pilot program.
  • Sets up a uniform citation process, including how notices are issued, what must be included, and how people can contest a citation.
  • Applies data privacy rules, limiting data use and sharing to the pilot program purpose.

• Penalty and diversion details

  • Red light violations: petty misdemeanor with a base fine of $40 (and a higher amount listed for certain contexts). First offense gets a warning; a second offense may be eligible for diversion and a traffic safety course, after which no fine or conviction remains.
  • Speed violations (speed camera): petty misdemeanor with a $40 or $80 fine, depending on severity (speed at least 20 mph over the limit). First offense gets a warning; second offense may be diverted with a traffic safety course, after which no fine or conviction remains.
  • Some penalties exclude commercial vehicle contexts or CDL holders; certain provisions apply only to violations after August 1, 2025 and before August 1, 2029.

• Pilot program scope and now-permitted entities

  • The pilot program may be implemented by the commissioners (in coordination with public safety), a county, a city (including Minneapolis or Mendota Heights), or a town.
  • Minneapolis is specifically restricted from running the pilot or camera enforcement through its police department.
  • Enforcement begins in work zones on trunk highways and can cover speeding violations or red light violations as part of the pilot.

• Public engagement, notices, and signage

  • Agencies must maintain public information on their websites about implementation, study results, how to contest citations, and where enforcement locations are.
  • Before camera enforcement begins, agencies must run a public engagement campaign, collect feedback, and prepare an engagement summary.
  • Monitoring sites must have conspicuous signage notifying drivers that camera-based enforcement is in use and, for speed cameras, the posted speed limit.

• Citations, notices, and contesting

  • A uniform traffic safety camera citation must be issued for violations, serving as a summons and complaint.
  • Citations may be mailed within a set time frame after the violation (14 days for Minnesota-registered vehicles; 30 days for out-of-state registrations).
  • The citation must include details about the violation, supporting images, the agent’s certification that the violation occurred, references to diversions and the traffic safety course, the option to contest, and payment terms.
  • Language accessibility: information must be provided in commonly spoken languages.

• Data privacy and use

  • Data collected by traffic safety cameras are private or nonpublic data, unless publicly accessible under specific statute sections.
  • Private entities involved in the pilot may use data only for camera enforcement and must not share data with others except by court order; summary data may be shared.
  • Data are not generally subject to subpoena or discovery outside the camera-enforcement context.

• Driving record considerations

  • Violations identified through camera enforcement generally cannot be recorded on a person’s driving record, with exceptions for violations by CDL holders or commercial vehicle contexts within the specified period.

• Effective period

  • The pilot program and related camera enforcement provisions are limited to August 1, 2025 through August 1, 2029 (with related procedural and enforcement infrastructure aligning to that window).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes and permanently extends a camera-based traffic enforcement framework through a formal pilot program and potential permanent adoption beyond 2029.
• Introduces standardized penalties, warnings, and a diversion option tied to a traffic safety course for both red light and speed camera violations.
• Expands who may implement camera enforcement to specified local and regional authorities while restricting Minneapolis from using its police department to run the pilot.
• Creates clearer public engagement requirements, signage duties, and a standardized citation process with detailed notice content.
• Tightens data privacy rules for camera data and limits data usage to enforcement purposes, with protections around sharing and access.
• Narrows how violations show up on driving records (with specific exceptions for CDL holders and commercial vehicle contexts).

Relevant dates and scope to watch: - August 1, 2025 to August 1, 2029: enforcement window for the pilot program and most provisions. - Work zones on trunk highways are a particular focus for initial enforcement under the pilot. - Minneapolis prohibition on coordinating enforcement through its police department remains a notable locality restriction.

Section Highlights (for quick reference)

• Red light penalties and diversion for second offenses; CDL/CDL-permit exceptions.
• Speed camera penalties and diversion; same first-offense structure.
• Definitions for camera-based enforcement, pilot program, local authorities (Minneapolis, Mendota Heights), and monitoring sites.
• Pilot program establishment, enforcement authority, and participating entities.
• Public engagement, signage, and information campaigns.
• Citations, warnings, and processes for contesting.
• Data practices, privacy protections, and private-entity data handling.
• Driving record considerations and exceptions.
• Related date and repeal adjustments.

Relevant Terms - traffic safety camera system - red light camera - speed safety camera - camera-based traffic enforcement - pilot program - public engagement - signage - traffic safety course - diversion - citation - uniform citation - warning - driving record - private entity - data privacy - Minnesota Statutes sections 169.06, 169.14, 169.147 - Minneapolis - Mendota Heights - work zones - trunk highways - commercial driver license (CDL) - commercial vehicle context - violation timing (Aug 1, 2025 – Aug 1, 2029)