Suffolk County Red Light Camera Fee Class Action Settlement
Suffolk County Red Light Camera Fee Class Action Settlement
Suffolk County and its Traffic and Parking Violations Agency agreed to pay up to $45 million to settle claims that a $30 administrative fee added to red light camera tickets was illegal under New York law. Anyone who paid that $30 fee to the County for a red light camera violation on or after April 1, 2013 can file a claim for up to $36 per fee paid. The claim deadline is December 8, 2026.
Settlement fund
Up to $45M
Cap on payments to class members
Top payout
Up to $36
Per $30 administrative fee paid
Claim deadline
Dec 8, 2026
43 days remaining
You may be owed money
Get claim instructions and more information directly from the official settlement website. Deadline: Dec 8, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You (a person or a business) paid a $30 Administrative Fee to Suffolk County or the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency for a red light camera violation between April 1, 2013 and the present.
- It does not matter where you live. Businesses that paid the fee on vehicles they own also qualify.
- No receipts are required. Claims are checked against County records using your Class Member ID, and you sign the claim under penalty of perjury.
- Excluded: Justice David T. Reilly, any other judge assigned to the case at trial or on appeal, their immediate families, and anyone who opts out by the November 9, 2026 deadline.
Not sure if you qualify or need your Class Member ID? Call the Settlement Administrator at 1-833-447-6790 or get more information from the settlement website directly at SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com.
What happened
Plaintiff Robert McGrath, Jr. sued Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency in 2016, alleging that the $30 administrative fee the County added on top of the $50 red light camera fine exceeded the $50 limit on liability set by New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1111-b. According to the Settlement Agreement, the trial court granted the plaintiff summary judgment in 2020, certified the class in 2023, and the Appellate Division affirmed both rulings in 2024. The County stopped imposing the extra $30 on January 25, 2023, and its request for leave to appeal class certification to the Court of Appeals was pending when the parties settled.
The County Defendants deny any wrongdoing. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the cost, risk, and delay of further appeals. Under the settlement, the County will pay valid claims up to a $45 million cap, and it will pay attorneys' fees, the class representative award, and administration costs separately, so those amounts do not reduce class member payments.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are eligible
You qualify if you paid the $30 administrative fee to Suffolk County for a red light camera violation on or after April 1, 2013. You will need your Class Member ID, which is printed on the notice mailed to you. If you did not get a notice or lost it, contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-833-447-6790 or through the settlement website to request your ID.
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2. Understand your payment
Each valid claim is worth up to $36 for every $30 administrative fee you paid. Total payments are capped at $45 million. If valid claims add up to more than that, every payment is reduced pro rata. Attorneys' fees, the service award, and administration costs are paid separately by the County.
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3. Get the details from the settlement website
Get claim instructions and more information directly from the official settlement website at SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com, and file through that site by 11:59 p.m. ET on December 8, 2026. You can also file a paper Claim Form postmarked by December 8, 2026 to McGrath v. Suffolk County, et al., c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324. You can choose payment by electronic transfer, prepaid debit card, or mailed check.
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4. Receive your payment
Payments are issued only after the Court grants final approval at the December 8, 2026 Fairness Hearing and any appeals are resolved. Under the Settlement Agreement, the County funds the claims within 30 days after the settlement becomes effective and the Administrator pays valid claims within 14 days after that. Checks expire after 90 days and prepaid cards after one year, so use them promptly.
Key dates
- Nov 9, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Soon
- Dec 8, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Dec 8, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (10:00 a.m. ET, in person) Upcoming
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
Opt-outs and objections must be postmarked by November 9, 2026, and must be mailed to the Settlement Administrator, Class Counsel, and counsel for the County Defendants (objections are also filed with the Clerk of the Court). The Fairness Hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET, IAS Part 30, at the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Suffolk County, One Court Street, Riverhead, NY 11901. The Court will also consider Class Counsel's request for up to $12,500,000 in attorneys' fees and costs and a $5,000 award for the class representative, both paid separately by the County. The hearing may be moved, so check SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com for updates.
Where the money is going
The County Defendants will pay valid claims at $36 per $30 administrative fee, up to a total cap of $45 million. This is a claims-made settlement: only people who file valid claims are paid, and if claims fall short of the cap the County does not pay the difference. Attorneys' fees, the service award, and administration costs are paid by the County on top of the class payments. Money from uncashed checks or unused prepaid cards goes back to the County to support driver safety initiatives.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval at the Fairness Hearing. The Court may award less than the amounts requested for fees and the service award. Individual payments may be reduced pro rata if valid claims exceed $45 million.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
Up to $36 for each $30 administrative fee you paid to Suffolk County for a red light camera violation. If valid claims total more than $45 million, every payment is reduced pro rata, so the final amount is not guaranteed.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
No receipts are required. You need your Class Member ID, and you sign the Claim Form under penalty of perjury that you paid the fees. The Settlement Administrator checks claims against County records and may ask for more information.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
Yes, you can still file, but you will need a Class Member ID. Contact Kroll Settlement Administration at 1-833-447-6790 or through the official settlement website at SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com to request your ID, and allow time for a response before the December 8, 2026 deadline.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
If you stay in the settlement, you give up the right to sue the County Defendants and related parties over the claims released in the Settlement Agreement, whether or not you file a claim. To keep your rights, you must mail a signed opt-out request, postmarked by November 9, 2026, to the Settlement Administrator, Class Counsel, and counsel for the County Defendants.
When will payments be sent out?
After the Court grants final approval at the December 8, 2026 Fairness Hearing and any appeals are resolved. The Settlement Agreement calls for the County to deposit funds within 30 days after the settlement becomes effective and for payments to go out within 14 days after that. Check SuffolkRedLightSettlement.com for updates.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
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This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Suffolk County and the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, Kroll Settlement Administration LLC (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Kevin S. Landau of Taus, Cebulash & Landau, LLP, Brett Cebulash of Taus, Cebulash & Landau, LLP, and David J. Raimondo of The Raimondo Law Firm. The case is McGrath v. Suffolk County, et al., Index No. 608155/2016, pending in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Suffolk before the Honorable David T. Reilly. Class representatives are Robert McGrath, Jr.. Suffolk County denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.