Preliminary Settlement Reached For Those Ticketed By N.J. Red Light Cameras
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Following a preliminary settlement Wednesday, motorists ticketed by red-light cameras in New Jersey last year are closer to getting some of their money back.
The settlement was filed in a lawsuit that claims the lights did not give drivers ample time to hit the brakes.
Under terms of the settlement, Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions would set up a $4.2 million fund to pay plaintiffs.
The company has not admitted any wrongdoing or liability.
Anyone who was ticketed before August 2012 in any of 18 towns and paid the $85 fine would be eligible to receive money back.
A judge must approve the agreement.
The towns are Brick, Deptford, East Brunswick, East Windsor, Jersey City, Lawrence, Linden, Glassboro, Gloucester Township, Monroe, Palisades Park, Piscataway, Pohatcong, Rahway, Roselle Park, Union, Wayne and Woodbridge.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation reported that 83 intersections in 25 municipalities used the system as of last May.
The red-light cameras are so unpopular in New Jersey that at two intersections in Newark, the cameras have been damaged by gunfire.
A yearlong study by the department found that all types of crashes at intersections with red light cameras were reduced by more than half, but that it was still too early to determine the effectiveness of the program.
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