More Than 1M Drivers To See Refunds In Major Red-Light Camera Settlement: Reports

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jul 20, 2017 7:12PM

The controversial way in which the city rolled out its red-light and speed cameras means that some 1.2 million drivers could soon be seeing refunds as part of a major $38.75 million, according to reports from the Tribune and the Sun-Times.

A lawsuit was launched back in 2015 alleging that the city failed to properly notify motorists of violations. Many drivers were found guilty before they had received a then-required second notice that they committed a traffic violation, the suit alleged. (The city now no longer needs to send a second notice, after the ordinance was changed amidst the controversy.) The charges were then sometimes compounded by $100 late fees, which were issued if payment wasn't made within a three-week window.

If you're one of the estimated million-plus eligible for a 50 percent refund, you should be notified by mail in the months ahead, the Tribune reports.

The city could have actually been on the hook for a far larger payout, up to $200 million, but the litigants didn't want the suit to drag out in court, according to the Sun-Times.

The settlement timeframe spans between 2010 and 2015, though not all drivers who were red-light-ticketed during that scope will get payments, because some drivers were properly notified, or took action against the violations.