Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violation Agency agreed to pay up to $45 million to resolve a class action lawsuit claiming they charged an unlawful $30 administrative fee for red-light camera violations in Suffolk County, New York.
The Suffolk County settlement benefits all persons or entities who paid a $30 administrative fee to Suffolk County or the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violation Agency for red-light camera violations between April 1, 2013, and the present.
According to plaintiff Robert McGrath Jr., the county imposed the $30 administrative fee on top of the fine for each red-light camera violation, even though New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1111-b limits liability to $50 per violation. The court declared the administrative fees illegal and barred the county from imposing them, although the county is pursuing appellate review of certain rulings.
Suffolk County, which covers the eastern portion of Long Island, has not admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to the class action settlement to avoid the costs and risks of a trial.
Under the terms of the Suffolk County settlement, class members can receive up to $36 for each red-light camera administrative fee they paid between April 1, 2013, and the present. These payments will be reduced on a pro rata basis if the total amount of valid claims exceeds $45 million.
The deadline for exclusion and objection is Nov. 9, 2026.
The final approval hearing for the Suffolk County settlement is scheduled for Dec. 8, 2026.
To receive class action settlement benefits, class members must submit a valid claim form by Dec. 8, 2026.