Nassau County Avoids $400 Million Repayment for Red-Light Camera Fees

A judge has ruled that Nassau County is not required to repay $400 million in red-light camera fees deemed illegal. This decision came after a rather unusual ruling indicated that drivers paid their fines voluntarily, even though they faced threats of license suspensions.

The ruling by County Supreme Court Judge Thomas Rademaker has sparked outrage among plaintiffs’ attorneys, with calls for his removal. Despite the court’s decision, Nassau officials have been collecting improper administrative fees from drivers for over a decade.

“Judge Rademaker’s ruling is astonishing, suggesting that residents acted voluntarily despite the county’s illegality,” commented attorney David Raimondo, who represents the affected drivers against Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Raimondo further criticized the judge for labeling the payments as “voluntary,” especially given Nassau’s threats to revoke licenses and registrations, tow vehicles, or negatively impact credit reports for unpaid fees.

“There was no avenue to dispute the fees. This amounted to economic coercion where drivers had little choice but to pay up,” he argued.

This lawsuit, which began in 2016, aimed to reclaim hundreds of millions of dollars accumulated through illegal surcharges from red-light camera operations.

Since 2009, Nassau drivers caught by red-light cameras have had to pay an extra $100 “driving liability” fee on top of a $50 primary fine. In Suffolk, the additional charge is a $30 administration fee.

After a lengthy legal struggle, the state’s Appellate Division declared in November that these surcharges were illegal, as the maximum fine had increased beyond $50, prohibiting future tickets from incurring those surcharges.

Meanwhile, Suffolk County is in discussions to settle approximately $91 million to compensate drivers harmed by similar practices, a move that has only intensified the frustration among Nassau residents.

Jacqueline Phillips, a former red-light ticket payer in the county, reacted to the ruling, stating, “They threaten you if you don’t pay. If I suggest paying just the ticket without the added fee, they’d laugh and suspend my license.”

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has opted not to comment on the matter.