SF2850

Purpose of the Bill

The main purpose of this bill is to prohibit the use of traffic safety cameras for the enforcement of traffic regulations in Minnesota. The legislation aims to stop the issuance of traffic violations based on evidence collected through such cameras and eliminates the related funding and legislative provisions.

Main Provisions

• The bill bans the commissioner of public safety and local government entities from using traffic safety cameras to issue traffic violations or enforce laws such as red light violations, speeding, distracted driving, and seat belt violations.
• All state grants for traffic safety camera systems are to be terminated, and existing projects using these systems must cease immediately.
• The bill mandates the cancellation of any unspent state funds designated for traffic safety camera pilot programs and reallocates these funds back to the general fund.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends current statutes to exclude traffic safety cameras as a valid means of enforcing traffic laws.
• Introduces new coding in the Minnesota Statutes to explicitly define and ban the use of traffic safety cameras.
• Repeals specific statutory provisions that previously supported the use of traffic safety cameras and related implementations.

Relevant Terms

traffic safety camera, traffic enforcement, red light violations, speeding, distracted driving, seat belt violations, radar speed-measuring device, automated license plate reader, traffic regulations.