MINNEAPOLIS — Starting in 2020, traffic deaths in the city of Minneapolis have shot up.
In 2018, nine people were killed and 11 in 2019. Then in 2020, 16 people died followed by 23, 22 and 21 killed the next three years.
"This is unacceptable. And we know people deserve to be safe getting around our community," said Ethan Fawley, the Vision Zero program coordinator for Minneapolis.
Minneapolis city officials want to use traffic enforcement cameras as one way to address that disturbing trend – speed cameras and possibly red light cameras.
"A proven safety countermeasure, which means there's been enough studies showing its safety benefits," Fawley said.
But before Minneapolis can implement a pilot program, the state legislature needs to change the law.
In 2007, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Minneapolis' right light camera program, known as PhotoCop, is illegal.
Lawmakers have new bills read to go for the session that starts next month, and if it passes, here's how the speed camera program in Minneapolis would work.
They'd place about 10 cameras around the city.
The cameras would flash when someone is going more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. It would only take a photo of the rear license plate.
The first violation is a warning. After that, a $40 ticket would be issued. Violations would not go on your driving record – and that's one key in simplifying the program compared to 2007 and not needing to identify the driver.
"Our goal is to reduce unsafe behavior. It isn't to give out tickets," Fawley said.
Representative Samantha Spencer-Mura is authoring a bill but says she's heard some apprehension.
"There's a lot of real and genuine concerns around civil liberties and equity," Spencer Mura said.
If they pass the bill, Minneapolis hopes to start its pilot in Summer 2025.
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